Lockdown cuts petrol sales by 61%, diesel by 56% in April; LPG up 12%

Petrol and diesel sales dropped by a record 61% and 56.5%, respectively, in April from a year earlier but an improvement in demand in the second half of the month signalled the worst was probably over, according to industry executives.

Fuel sales have crashed as the nationwide lockdown has mostly kept people indoors, vehicles off the roads, planes grounded and factories silent. The 40-day lockdown, imposed by the government to fight the coronavirus pandemic, is expected to end on May 3 but its partial easing since April 20 slightly improved fuel demand as the government permitted some economic activity and eased mobility restrictions, executives said.

Petrol sales decline of 61% for the full month is an improvement over 64% decline in the first half of April. Similarly, diesel sales for the month fell 56.5%, better than the 61% drop witnessed in the first half of April.