Consumption of diesel and petrol surged about 9.4% and 8.7%, respectively, in July from the same month last year, primarily fuelled by lower-than-usual monsoons increasing the demand for the two retail fuels among farmers who require them to run their irrigation machinery and tractors, among other things.

According to provisional government data, diesel consumption in July this year accelerated to about 8.05 million metric tonnes (MMT), higher than 7.356 MMT in the comparable period last year.

Consumption of petrol scaled 3.795 MMT in July this year, compared to 3.493 MMT in the comparable period last year.

Further, the provisional data also stipulate that consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) declined 17.4% during the reported period to 2.373 MMT.

The reported decline is notwithstanding the Union Government having restored the supply of industrial and commercial LPG to pre-crisis levels and having withdrawn all sector-specific allocation caps June 25.

Although it coincides with the government’s accelerated momentum for adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) — both for domestic and industrial consumers.

Consumption of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, also narrowed 1.44% on a year-over-year basis to 0.699 MMT during the reported period.