India’s fuel sales drop 9.4 per cent in April on COVID wave

India’s fuel demand slumped 9.4 per cent in April when compared to the preceding month as lockdowns clamped in several states to curb the second wave of coronavirus sweeping the nation pummelled demand, official data showed on Wednesday. Fuel consumption fell 9.38 per cent to 17.01 million tonnes in April from 18.77 million tonnes in March, data from Oil Ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) showed.

India was under one of the world’s severest lockdowns in April 2020, bringing to a halt almost all economic activity. Fuel sales had halved that month, plunging to the lowest since 2006. Comparing on a yearly basis, fuel demand surged 81.5 per cent from April 2020 lows.

Sales of petrol — used in cars and motorcycles — fell to 2.38 million tonnes in April, the lowest since August. Petrol sales in April were 13 per cent lower than March 2021 and 3 per cent lower than April 2019. Petrol sales in April 2020 were 9,72,000 tonnes.

Demand for diesel — the most used fuel in the country — fell to 6.67 million tonnes in April 2021, down 7.5 per cent from the previous month and 9 per cent from April 2019. Diesel sales in April 2020 were 3.25 million tonnes.

With airlines continuing to operate at less than capacity, jet fuel (ATF) sales in April were 4,09,000 tonnes, down 14 per cent over March 2021 and 36.7 per cent over April 2019. Jet fuel sales in April 2020 were 5,500 tonnes.