September 17, 2026: The sudden closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline due to drone strikes has pushed Brent crude prices close to $110 a barrel, threatening to severely impact the marketing margins of Indian oil marketing companies. While a television report claims this disruption could increase OMC procurement costs by 35-40% (as stated in the source alert; not independently verified), the actual impact manifests as a surge in freight rates and longer voyages to bypass transit risks. State-run retailers like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

Corporation Limited are highly vulnerable to these rising landed costs as domestic retail fuel rates remain capped.

(Source: Sahi)