Diesel sales top pre-Covid level by 6% in October on festive demand

NEW DELHI: India’s diesel consumption in October shot past the pre-pandemic level for the first time since the lockdown, while petrol and power demand continued to grow at a healthy trot, clearly indicating that economic recovery is gathering steam on the back of festival season demand.
Latest market data shows state-run fuel retailers, who dominate 90% of the market, selling six per cent more diesel in October than they did a year ago and petrol consumption rising four per cent year-on-year.
Simultaneously, government data for October shows power consumption rising more than 13 per cent to 110.94 BUs (billion units), driven mainly by buoyancy in industrial and commercial activities, from 97.84 BUs a year ago.