Covid curbs, manufacturing slack take toll on fuel consumption

NEW DELHI: India’s fuel consumption dropped sharply in the first half of April as a resurgence in Covid-19 infections and local restrictions hit the movement of people and slowed down economic activities.
Market data for the first fortnight of the month shows petrol sales dropping more than 5% and diesel consumption, a bellwether for economic activities, sliding almost 3% from a month ago. Consumption of jet fuel and LPG, or household cooking gas, too shrank more than 7% and sales 6%, respectively.
Nothing captures the impact of renewed curbs than the sharp drop in petrol sales. Its demand had posted robust recovery once the unlock process began last year and has consistently grown over the previous months as people preferred personal vehicles to public transport.