In March, India experienced a slight 0.6% year-on-year decrease in fuel consumption, totaling 21.09 million metric tons. However, for the 2024 financial year, fuel demand surged by approximately 5%, reaching a record high of 233.276 million tons. This growth was primarily fueled by increased sales of automotive fuel and naphtha, with notable rises in diesel, gasoline, bitumen, cooking gas, and naphtha sales.
Diesel sales, crucial for trucks and commercial vehicles, saw a 3.1% increase in March and a 4.4% rise for the fiscal year. Gasoline sales rose by 6.9% in March and 6.4% for the year, while bitumen sales remained consistent in March but grew by 9.9% for the fiscal year. Cooking gas sales surged by 8.6%, and naphtha sales jumped by 5.5% compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, fuel oil usage experienced a decline of 9.7% in March and 6.3% for the fiscal year.