Indian oil demand jumps 19 % on high consumption during polls

India's oil demand jumped 19 % to 8.08 mm ton in April this year due to rise in fuel consumption during electioneering.
Diesel consumption, an indicator of economic activity, spurted 26.8 % to 3.486 mm ton as opposed to 2.75 mm ton consumed in April 2003, according to the latest update of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

India consumed 6.798 mm ton oil products in April 2003. Petrol sales were up 14.5 % to 678,500 ton in April, 2004 against 592,600 ton in April, 2003.
"Increased vehicular movement, particularly for poll campaigning, was primarily responsible for the rise in oil demand," Ministry officials said, adding retail (petrol pump) sale of diesel shot up 30.4 % to 2.8 mm ton in April.

Naphtha consumption remained almost unchanged at 477,100 ton while jet fuel (aviation turbine fuel) sale was up 16 % at 218,000 ton. Kerosene sales skid 1.6 % to 756,400 ton as compared to consumption of 768,600 ton in the previous year.
LPG demand rose 17.6 % to 767,100 ton in April 2004 against 652,400 ton in the corresponding month last year. Retail product (petrol, diesel, kerosene and CNG) sales were up 20.8 % to 4.245 mm ton while industrial consumption rose 16.5 % to 3.026 mm ton.