India, Sept. 21 -- India's petrol pricing benchmark has risen to a 50-month high of $133.05 a barrel this month, putting state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) under renewed pressure as geopolitical disruptions threaten to push international oil prices higher, according to industry officials and official data.

The average daily benchmark price for petrol between September 1 and 18 was 20% higher than the August average of $110.87 a barrel, according to the data. It has also surpassed the recent peak of $129.63 recorded in May, when state-run OMCs raised petrol and diesel prices four times in a month.

The sharp rise is already resulting in losses on retail sales for fuel retailers. OMCs are currently losing about Rs.5 a litre on petrol...