India July 1-15 petrol, diesel sales rise sharply on year, preliminary data shows

NEW DELHI: Indian state-run fuel retailers’ sale of petrol and diesel rose sharply in the first half of July from a year earlier, according to preliminary sales data, as lower monsoon rains boosted demand from farmers and motorists.

Petrol sales rose 22.9% year-on-year to 1.64 million tonnes during July 1-15, compared with 1.33 million tonnes in the same period last year.

Diesel sales, which account for the largest share of fuel consumption in India, increased 20.9% y/y to 3.47 million tonnes.

India lifts restrictions on sale of petrol, diesel from July 1

Jet fuel sales were broadly steady, rising 0.7% y/y to 315,400 tonnes.

Liquefied petroleum gas sales fell 17.5% y/y to 1.15 million tonnes, the data showed.