⛽ NOC Official Data — Updated May 2026
Petrol Price History in Nepal 2019–2026 — Every NOC Hike & Cut With Dates, Reasons & Chart
📅 Last updated: May 6, 2026 — All prices from Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) official announcements. This is Nepal’s only complete single-source petrol price history from 2019 to May 2026. Prices are for Kathmandu (Zone C). Zone A (Terai) prices are Rs. 10–15/litre cheaper.
This is Nepal’s most complete petrol and diesel price history — covering every significant Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) price change from January 2019 to May 2026. Whether you’re a researcher, journalist, student, or simply a Nepali trying to understand why fuel prices have risen so dramatically, this timeline gives you the full picture: exact prices before and after each change, the reason NOC cited, and the global crude oil context at the time.
Nepal does not produce its own petroleum — 100% of fuel is imported from India via Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Nepal’s pump prices are therefore directly tied to both global crude oil prices and the IOC transfer price, with NOC’s subsidies or surcharges determining the final price you pay at the pump.
⛽ Current NOC Fuel Prices — May 6, 2026 (Kathmandu Zone C)
Petrol (पेट्रोल)
Rs. 217
per litre — Kathmandu
↑ from Rs. 202 (April 3, 2026)
Diesel (डिजेल)
Rs. 192
per litre — Kathmandu
↑ from Rs. 182 (April 3, 2026)
Kerosene (मट्टीतेल)
Rs. 192
per litre
Same as diesel
LPG 14.2kg
Rs. 1,910
per cylinder
Unchanged since Jan 2026
📌 Zone A vs Zone C Prices in Nepal — Why Your Price May Differ
NOC divides Nepal into price zones. Zone A (Terai districts bordering India — Birgunj, Biratnagar, Butwal, Nepalgunj etc.) has the lowest prices because transportation costs from Indian border depots are minimal. Zone C (Kathmandu, hilly districts, far-west) has the highest prices due to transportation surcharges. Prices on this page are Zone C (Kathmandu) unless stated. Zone A petrol is typically Rs. 10–15/litre cheaper.
📈 Petrol Price Trend Nepal — Visual Chart 2019–2026
Petrol & Diesel Price per Litre — Kathmandu Zone C (2019–2026)
Petrol (Rs./litre)
Diesel (Rs./litre)
📅 Complete Petrol Price Timeline Nepal — Every Change 2019–2026
January 2019 — March 2021
Stable Period — Rs. 106/litre Petrol
Petrol: Rs. 106/LDiesel: Rs. 88/L
Nepal maintained stable fuel prices through most of 2019 and 2020. COVID-19 pandemic (2020) caused global crude oil prices to collapse, but NOC kept retail prices unchanged, recovering accumulated losses from previous periods. This was one of the longest stable periods in Nepal’s fuel price history.
July 2021
First Post-COVID Hike — Rs. +30 on Petrol
Petrol: Rs. 106 → Rs. 136/L (+Rs. 30)Diesel: Rs. 88 → Rs. 117/L (+Rs. 29)
As global crude oil prices recovered with post-pandemic demand surge, NOC accumulated Rs. 16 billion in losses. The July 2021 hike was Nepal’s first significant fuel price increase in years, shocking consumers who had grown accustomed to stable prices. Global crude was approximately $75/barrel at this point.
March 2022
Russia-Ukraine War Shock — Rs. +25 on Petrol
Petrol: Rs. 136 → Rs. 161/L (+Rs. 25)Diesel: Rs. 117 → Rs. 144/L (+Rs. 27)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent global crude prices above $120/barrel. NOC’s losses became unsustainable — the corporation was losing Rs. 42 per litre sold. The March 2022 hike was one of the largest single increases in Nepal’s history, causing widespread public protests and political pressure on the government.
July 2022 — Peak Price
All-Time High — Rs. 178/litre Petrol (Highest Ever)
Petrol: Rs. 161 → Rs. 178/LDiesel: Rs. 144 → Rs. 163/L
Nepal’s petrol price hit an all-time high in July 2022 as global crude peaked near $130/barrel. This was the most expensive petrol in Nepal’s modern history. NOC cited continuing Russian-Ukraine war supply disruptions and weakening NPR against USD. The price created severe hardship for transport operators, farmers using pump irrigation, and ordinary commuters across Nepal.
November 2022
First Cut — Rs. 178 → Rs. 180 (Minor Adjustment)
Petrol: Rs. 178 → Rs. 180/LDiesel: Rs. 163/L unchanged
A minor adjustment as global crude softened from its peak but remained elevated. NOC described this as a “partial adjustment” — political pressure and election timing (November 2022 parliamentary elections) contributed to the modest cut.
Multiple times 2023
Gradual Reductions — Prices Start to Fall
Petrol: Rs. 180 → Rs. 173/L (by October 2023)Diesel: Rs. 163 → Rs. 155/L
As global crude oil prices gradually fell from their 2022 peaks (settling around $75–85/barrel), NOC made several incremental price reductions through 2023. NOC also reduced losses as prices stabilized. Consumer groups criticized the reductions as too slow relative to global crude’s decline, alleging NOC was recovering losses faster than necessary.
June 2024 — Lowest Price in 3 Years
Major Cut — Petrol Falls to Rs. 155/litre
Petrol: Rs. 173 → Rs. 155/L (-Rs. 18)Diesel: Rs. 155 → Rs. 138/L (-Rs. 17)
Nepal’s largest fuel price reduction in years came in June 2024 as global crude oil fell below $75/barrel and NOC accumulated surplus from the previous pricing period. The Rs. 155 petrol price was the lowest since March 2022 — bringing some relief to Nepal’s transport sector and common people after two years of elevated prices.
October 2024
Reversal — Back to Rs. 180/litre
Petrol: Rs. 155 → Rs. 180/L (+Rs. 25)Diesel: Rs. 138 → Rs. 163/L (+Rs. 25)
A sharp reversal as global crude spiked again following Middle East tensions (Israel-Gaza conflict escalation) and OPEC+ production cuts. NOC cited unsustainable losses and rising IOC transfer prices. The Rs. 25 hike in a single day shocked consumers who had hoped the June 2024 cut represented a new normal.
April 3, 2026
2026 Hike — Rs. 202/litre Petrol
Petrol: Rs. 187 → Rs. 202/L (+Rs. 15)Diesel: Rs. 170 → Rs. 182/L (+Rs. 12)
NOC cited rising global crude (back to $85+/barrel) and NPR depreciation against USD as primary reasons. The April 3, 2026 hike came without advance notice — NOC’s typical approach of midnight announcements. Nepal’s transport associations immediately demanded fare hikes for public vehicles, sparking another round of negotiations with the government.
May 2026 (Current)
Latest Hike — Rs. 217/litre Petrol (May 2026)
Petrol: Rs. 202 → Rs. 217/L (+Rs. 15)Diesel: Rs. 182 → Rs. 192/L (+Rs. 10)
The May 2026 hike is the second consecutive increase in 2026, bringing petrol to Rs. 217 — the highest price since the July 2022 peak of Rs. 178. The combined April+May 2026 hikes total Rs. 30/litre on petrol in just 6 weeks — the fastest consecutive price rise since the Russia-Ukraine war period. EV adoption in Nepal has accelerated sharply following this hike.
📊 Petrol Price Year-End Summary Nepal — 2019 to 2026
| Year | Petrol (Rs./L) | Diesel (Rs./L) | Change vs Prior Year | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Rs. 106 | Rs. 88 | Stable | No major change |
| 2020 | Rs. 106 | Rs. 88 | Stable | COVID pandemic — global crude crashed but prices held |
| 2021 | Rs. 136 (+Rs. 30) | Rs. 117 | ↑ HIKE | Post-COVID demand surge, NOC losses Rs. 16 billion |
| 2022 | Rs. 178 (+Rs. 42) | Rs. 163 | ↑ ALL-TIME HIGH | Russia-Ukraine war, global crude $130/barrel |
| 2023 | Rs. 173 (-Rs. 5) | Rs. 155 | ↓ SLIGHT CUT | Gradual crude oil price softening |
| 2024 | Rs. 180 (+/-) | Rs. 163 | Mixed | Big cut to Rs. 155 June, then hike to Rs. 180 October |
| 2025 | Rs. 187 | Rs. 170 | ↑ HIKE | OPEC+ production cuts, Middle East tensions |
| May 2026 | Rs. 217 (+Rs. 30) | Rs. 192 | ↑ SHARP HIKE | Second consecutive hike — EV adoption accelerates |
💡 Key Takeaways from Nepal’s Petrol Price History
Looking at the full 2019–2026 timeline, several important patterns emerge for Nepali consumers and policymakers:
- Petrol rose 105% in 7 years — from Rs. 106 (2019) to Rs. 217 (May 2026). A family spending Rs. 3,000/month on petrol in 2019 now spends approximately Rs. 6,150/month for the same fuel volume.
- NOC rarely passes cuts as fast as hikes — When global crude fell 40% from 2022 peak to 2024, Nepal’s petrol price fell only 13%. When global crude rose in 2026, prices hiked immediately. This asymmetry is a consistent pattern in Nepal’s fuel pricing history.
- Every major global event hits Nepal directly — COVID, Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts — Nepal’s import dependency on Indian crude means external shocks transmit directly to Nepali pump prices within weeks.
- The EV case has never been stronger — At Rs. 217/litre, an EV scooter owner paying Rs. 558/month vs a petrol scooter owner paying Rs. 6,493/month is saving Rs. 70,000+ per year. The 2026 price surge has accelerated EV adoption in Kathmandu more than any government incentive could.
❓ FAQ — Petrol Price Nepal
What is the current petrol price in Nepal in May 2026?
The current petrol price in Nepal (Kathmandu, Zone C) as of May 2026 is Rs. 217 per litre. Diesel is Rs. 192 per litre. This follows a hike in May 2026 from the April 3, 2026 prices of Rs. 202 (petrol) and Rs. 182 (diesel). Zone A prices (Terai districts) are approximately Rs. 10–15/litre cheaper.
When was petrol cheapest in Nepal?
In the period 2019–2026, petrol was cheapest in Nepal in 2019–2021 at Rs. 106/litre — a rate maintained for over two years. The most recent lowest price was Rs. 155/litre in June 2024, which was the cheapest since the post-Ukraine war hikes of 2022. By May 2026, prices have risen Rs. 62/litre (40%) from that June 2024 low.
Why is petrol so expensive in Nepal in 2026?
Petrol is expensive in Nepal in 2026 for four main reasons: 1) Nepal imports 100% of its petroleum from India via IOC — any global crude price increase hits Nepal directly. 2) The Nepali Rupee has depreciated against USD, making dollar-denominated crude imports more expensive. 3) OPEC+ production cuts in 2025–2026 reduced global supply, pushing crude prices above $85/barrel. 4) Nepal’s landlocked geography adds significant transportation costs from Indian refineries to Nepal’s fuel depots and petrol stations.
Will petrol prices decrease in Nepal in 2026?
PriceNepal does not make price predictions — NOC’s pricing decisions depend on global crude oil markets, the USD/NPR exchange rate, and political considerations that are impossible to forecast reliably. Historically, prices have followed global crude trends but with a lag and an asymmetry where hikes come faster than cuts. If global crude falls below $70/barrel and stays there, Nepali prices could see a reduction. Monitoring NOC’s official announcements at noc.org.np is the best way to track changes.
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