On August 2, 2026, India witnessed a significant surge in petrol and diesel sales for the month of July, primarily due to the below-normal monsoon rainfall. The three state-run fuel retailers, Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd, reported a substantial increase in fuel sales. Petrol sales climbed 9.7 per cent to 3.45 million tonnes, while diesel sales rose 10.7 per cent year-on-year to 7.12 million tonnes. The weak monsoon led to increased irrigation demand, resulting in higher diesel sales. In contrast, petrol sales fell 1.1 per cent compared to June, and diesel sales declined 9.2 per cent. The late arrival of the monsoon also affected fuel sales, as farmers relied on diesel to irrigate their farms. Additionally, jet fuel sales increased by 2.9 per cent to 659,900 tonnes, but LPG sales continued to drop, falling 17.4 per cent to 2.37 million tonnes. Industry officials attributed the decline in LPG sales to the shift towards piped natural gas. The sales data indicates a notable shift in fuel demand patterns, influenced by the monsoon and other factors.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf