Petrol and Diesel Market Price vs. Formula Price in September 2025

Abstract

Fuel prices reduced in September 2025, with the market price of Octane 92 Petrol falling to LKR 299.00 from LKR 305.00 in August, and Auto Diesel declining to LKR 283.00 from LKR 289.00 in the same time frame. However, the formula price for petrol remained broadly unchanged, easing slightly to LKR 295.93 from LKR 296.10 in August, while the formula price for diesel fell more sharply to LKR 270.37 from LKR 279.99 over the same period. The reduction in the market price of petrol narrowed the deviation with its formula price to LKR 3.07, down from LKR 8.90 in August, bringing it within the allowable variation threshold* under the pricing formula. In contrast, the retail price of diesel continues to exceed its formula price. In September, the gap widened to LKR 12.63, up from LKR 9.01 in August, remaining above the allowable threshold. This breach has persisted since April 2025, though the gap had been narrowing since June. The increase in September marks a reversal of that trend. For additional information and historical comparisons, visit the Fuel Price Tracker.