Castrol India’s third‑quarter profit slid to ₹176.37 crore, a 23 % plunge from the ₹227.80 crore level the company posted a year earlier.
Yet revenue from operations still rose 27 % year‑on‑year to ₹1,734.72 crore, reflecting steady demand for motor oils amid India’s growing fleet.
The squeeze came from a 70.8 % jump in raw‑material and packaging expenses, which swelled to ₹1,085.86 crore from ₹635.79 crore in Q3 2025, while total operating costs jumped 41 % to ₹1,504.74 crore.
MD Saugata Basuray said the company’s early‑year price adjustments helped blunt margin erosion, but warned that inflationary pressures could persist.
For the automotive sector, the hit means that lubricant manufacturers may need to rethink pricing strategies, and consumers could see higher retail costs for engine oils and greases.
With India’s EV push tightening diesel subsidies and tightening the supply of high‑performance lubricants, Castrol’s next quarter will be watched closely to gauge how the industry copes with raw‑material volatility.