Petrol and diesel sales surge as dealers stock up ahead of rise in prices

New Delhi: Petrol and diesel sales increased 9% and 10%, respectively, year-on-year in March as dealers stocked up on fuel ahead of an expected sharp rise in retail prices.

Consumption of petrol was 14% higher than in March 2019 while that of diesel was 5% higher, per the preliminary sales data from state-run oil companies that control nearly 90% of retail sales in the country. These sales figures represent dispatches from companies’ depots and not retail purchases.