Petrol demand surged 9% above pre-pandemic level, diesel stayed 6.5% lower in September

The demand for petrol surged 9% above the pre-pandemic level while that for diesel stayed 6.5% lower in September, in a sign of divergent recovery paths the two fuels have taken following the easing of Covid restrictions.

Petrol sales rose 6.6% year-on-year in September while diesel rose barely 1% over last year, as per the preliminary sales data from state-run oil companies that control nearly 90% of the fuel retail market.