INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Diesel sales totalled 5.86 million tonnes last month, up 1.27% from October 2019.New Delhi: India's diesel consumption in October rose
above pre-Covid levels for the first time in a year, as increased industrial activity ahead of the festival season spurred demand for the
fuel.The country's factory activity expanded in October at its quickest pace in eight months on strong demand and increased output,
according to the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by IHS Markit.Diesel sales totalled 5.86 million tonnes last month,
equivalent to 189,200 tonnes per day, up 1.27% from October 2019, but a decline of 5.08% from the same month last year, preliminary sales
data of state fuel retailers showed.Petrol sales at 2.48 million tonnes rose by 3.93% from a year earlier, the data showed.India's diesel
consumption, which accounts for about two-fifths of the country's fuel demand, typically rises during a month-long festival season that
ends with the celebration of Diwali as diesel-guzzling trucks hit the road and industrial activity gathers pace.Easing of Covid-led
restrictions also aided to a recovery in diesel sales."Last year Diwali was in mid-November so sales were spread over two months - October
This year sales are mostly visible in October," said an official at one of the state fuel retailers
India will celebrate Diwali on Thursday.Improved overseas fuel margins and rising diesel sales in the world's third-biggest oil consumer
and importer are helping refiners to raise crude processing.State retailers - Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum
Corp - control about 90% of the fuel stations in the country.(This story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is
auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
