New Delhi: Indian fuel demand rebounded in June after slumping to nine-month low in the previous month as a limitation to curb the spread of the pandemic reduced, helping economic activities and mobility to take.
Fuel consumption rose 1.5 percent to 16.33 million tons in June from the previous year and at 8 percent more than May 2021, data from petroleum planning and cell analysis (PPAC) from the Ministry of Petroleum and natural gas showed.
Gasoline sales rose 5.6 percent year-to-year to 2.4 million tons in June.
It rose 21 percent of sales of 1.99 million tons.
Diesel – The most widely used fuel in this country – rose 12 percent from May to 6.2 million tons, but fell 1.5 percent from June 2020 and 18.8 percent from June 2019.
This is the first monthly improvement since March.
Fuel demand has recovered to the almost normal level in March before the emergence of the second wave of Covid-19 infection causes the imposition of locking in various states, extending economic activity and condemning.
Consumption in May slumped to the lowest since August last year amid locking and restrictions in several countries.
Fuel demand shows signs of revival in June after restrictions began to subside and the economy gathered.
With the addition of Covid cases that continue to decline and vaccination speed increases, the state government continues to be reopened, although some exceptions such as Maharashtra exist.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has last year that Indian fuel demand will recover to the pre-pandemic level at the end of 2021.
“We are sure at the end of this calendar year, we will be in a position to restore our original (pre -covid) consumption behavior, “Pradhan said.
LPG consumption, the only fuel that shows growth even during the first lock because of the free supply by the government to the poor, up 9.7 percent year to year to 2.26 million tons.
It rose 26.3 percent from June 2019.
with airlines still to continue full-scale operation because of travel restrictions around the world, the sale of jet fuel at 2.58,000 tons rose 16.2 percent year in the year but 61.7 percent lower than June 2019.
Naphtha sales fell around 3.1 percent to 1.19 million tons while sales of bitumen – used to make roads, down 32 percent at 5.09,000 tons.
Fuel oil consumption rose 1.9 percent to 5,33,000 tons.