Summer season journey pushes petrol gross sales by 10% in first half of Could

Automobiles wait at a toll gate close to Puducherry. File photograph
| Photograph Credit score: The Hindu

Petrol consumption spiked by about 10 per cent within the first half of Could as summer season season journey led to a surge in demand for the gasoline, in line with provisional gross sales information of state-owned gasoline retailers.

Petrol consumption rose to 1.5 million tonne throughout Could 1-15 from 1.37 million tonne gross sales a 12 months again. Its demand was up 10.5 per cent over consumption of 1.36 million tonne in Could 1-15, 2023 and practically 46 per cent larger than Covid-marred first fortnight of Could 2021.

Diesel gross sales have been up 2 per cent to three.36 million tonne, the info of three state-owned gasoline retailers, who management about 90 per cent of the gasoline market, confirmed. The consumption of India’s most used gasoline has rebounded since final month.

Diesel, the lifeline of transport and rural agri economic system, noticed simply 2 per cent development in demand in fiscal 12 months ended March 31, 2025.

In April, diesel consumption rose to eight.23 million tonne, up practically 4 per cent over demand within the year-ago interval. Throughout Could 1-15, diesel gross sales have been 2 per cent larger than 3.29 million tonne consumption in the identical interval final 12 months. It was 1.3 per cent larger than Could 1-15, 2023 and 16 per cent greater than Covid-marred first fortnight of Could 2021.

Diesel gross sales have been up 5.2 per cent when in comparison with 3.19 million tonne consumed within the first half of April 2025.

Onset of summer season triggers rural demand for irrigation in addition to for air-conditioners in city areas. Business officers mentioned diesel had hit a sluggish lane in the previous few months, resulting in speculations about its future. The expansion since April was on the again of rise in consumption for electioneering a 12 months again.

ATF development slows

Jet gasoline (ATF) consumption development slowed to 1.1 per cent to three,27,900 tonne in Could 1-15 as flight restrictions over some components of northern and western India because of tensions with Pakistan dented demand. ATF gross sales have been 8.6 per cent larger than consumption in Could 1-15, 2023 and 11 per cent greater than first half of Could 2021.

Month-on-month, jet gasoline consumption was down 5.8 per cent compared with 3,48,100 tonne of April 1-15.

LPG continued to be within the quick lane with 10.4 per cent development to 1.34 million tonne within the first fortnight of Could, pushed by Ujjawala connections. Since 2019, volumes equal to virtually 5 months have been added in home cooking fuel consumption.

Cooking fuel gross sales have been 10 per cent larger than 1.22 million tonne consumption of Could 1-15, 2023 and 33 per cent greater than 1.01 million tonne within the first half of Could 2021. LPG gross sales have been up 7.3 per cent compared with 1.25 million tonne of April 1-15.