Budget 2021 expectations | Transporters' profitability hinges on reduction in excise duty on diesel

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2021 on February 1. This is undoubtedly one of the most challenging budgets amid the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant economic distress. Here, let us look at the state of the Indian freight transportation sector.

State of transportation industry

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic slowdown have exacerbated the pain of the road freight transportation sector which is already suffering from overcapacity due to the revised axle norm and moderating freight demand. Owing to lower fleet utilisation, transporters were unable to pass on the 20 percent rise in diesel prices, as spot freight rates fell around 3 percent in September vis-a-vis April, severely impacting transporter profitability.

Fleet utilisation appears to have improved sequentially, especially in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 thanks to festive demand. This is confirmed by an increase in freight rate – spot freight rate rose around 18 percent in November vis-à-vis September against a one percent dip in diesel prices during the period. Having said that, fleet utilisation is lower than in fiscal 2019, as freight rates remain at the levels seen in that fiscal, while fuel prices are about 8 percent higher.