NEW DELHI: India’s fuel consumption is recovering fast in May, with demand for diesel and petrol showing signs of revival after falling by a record pace in April due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Fuel sales surged during the first half of May as compared with the same period last month, as vehicular traffic returned to roads following easing of some lockdown restrictions.
According to preliminary sales data of state-owned fuel retailers, diesel consumption soared 75 per cent to 1.93 million tonnes in the first half of May as compared with the same period in April.
Petrol sales climbed 72 per cent to 5,75,000 tonnes, while sales of jet fuel almost doubled to 39,000 tonnes.
However, consumption was lower than in the first half of May 2019.
Sale of petrol was down 47.5 per cent as compared with 1.1 million tonnes sold during May 1-15, 2019, while diesel consumption was 37.5 per cent lower than 3.1 million tonnes last year.
