CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Petrol, diesel sales hit record in August amid erratic rainfall
New Delhi. India recorded a sharp rise in petrol and diesel sales in August 2026. According to preliminary data from state-owned oil companies, erratic monsoon rainfall forced farmers to run diesel pumps more frequently for irrigation, while petrol demand also registered healthy growth.
Petrol sales rise 9.1%
According to sales data from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), petrol sales in August rose 9.1% year-on-year to 3.48 million tonnes. In August 2025, the figure was around 3.19 million tonnes.
Petrol sales in August were about 14% higher than in August 2024 and 30.7% higher than in August 2023. Compared with July, petrol sales in August also increased by nearly 1%.
Diesel demand jumps 10.2%
Diesel sales recorded an even stronger increase. In August, diesel sales rose 10.2% year-on-year to 6.27 million tonnes, compared with around 5.69 million tonnes in the same month last year.
Agriculture and irrigation activity are being seen as the main reasons behind the rise in diesel demand. Due to the uneven distribution of the monsoon, farmers in several areas had to use diesel-powered pumps more extensively to supply water to their fields. Diesel is also widely used in freight transport and agricultural machinery.
LPG demand declines
While petrol and diesel consumption increased, LPG demand registered a decline. Available preliminary data showed an estimated 16.1% fall in LPG sales. This highlighted a wide divergence in demand across different products in the country’s fuel market.
Overall, the rise in fuel consumption in August was linked to transport activity, agricultural and irrigation needs, and uneven monsoon patterns. In the coming months, the trend in petrol and diesel demand will be watched in light of monsoon conditions and economic activity.
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