Petrol, diesel demand rises in April as summer season fuels consumption

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| Photograph Credit score: The Hindu

India’s diesel consumption rebounded in April, recording a 4% enhance in demand after months of low or detrimental progress, pushed by the beginning of summer season season with hotter days and nights.

Diesel, India’s most consumed petroleum gas and lifeline of transport and rural agri financial system, noticed simply 2% progress in demand in fiscal 12 months ended March 31, 2024 and no progress in any respect within the previous monetary 12 months.

In April, diesel consumption rose to eight.23 million tonnes, up almost 4% over demand within the year-ago interval, in keeping with newest knowledge obtainable from the Petroleum Planning and Evaluation Cell of Ministry of Petroleum and Pure Gasoline.

The consumption was 5.3% greater than April 2023 and 10.45% increased than the earlier Covid-2019 interval.

Onset of summer season triggers rural demand for irrigation in addition to for air-conditioning in city areas. The 4% rise in April 2025 is the very best recorded quantity for this month and second highest ever quantity in any month.

Trade officers stated diesel had hit a gradual lane in the previous few months, resulting in speculations about its future. The expansion in April was on the again of rise in consumption for electioneering a 12 months again.

Whereas there was a shift in passenger autos to petrol, CNG and electrical energy, diesel nonetheless makes up for round 38% of all petroleum merchandise consumed within the nation.

It has grown at greater than 10% over pre-Covid quantity and can proceed to develop for the following a few years, they stated.

Throughout April 2025, petrol consumption registered a progress of 4.6% to three.435 million tonnes. Petrol consumption final 12 months had soared by 19 per cent as a consequence of electioneering. It has added quantity equal to 4 months since 2019.

LPG continued to be within the quick lane with 6.7% progress to 2.621 million tonnes, pushed by Ujjawala connections. Since 2019, volumes equal to nearly 5 months have been added in home cooking fuel consumption.

ATF consumption progress slowed to three.25% to 7,66,000 tonnes.

Jet gas was clocking a double-digit progress final 12 months as a consequence of electioneering (final 12 months ATF grew by 11.28% in April 2024), in keeping with PPAC.