India's oil consumption rises 1% in Oct

Petrol sales jumped 10.5% in October, while LPG consumption increased to 1.4 million tonnes

India's oil consumption rose by close to 1% in October, after falling for four consecutive months.

Oil product sales were up 0.96% to 13.097 million tonnes in October from 12.972 million tonnes in the year-ago period, according to the latest data available with the Petroleum Ministry here.

This is the first rise in consumption since the dip started in June. Sales fell as much as 1.5% in June and by 1.3% in the following month.

Sales of diesel, which makes up for close to 45% of the total petroleum products consumed in the country dropped 1.47% to 5.616 million tonnes in October, the data showed.

But for April and May, diesel sales this fiscal have been lower than the year-ago period as good monsoon curtailed its demand in irrigation pumps and improved electricity supply.

Petrol sales, however, jumped 10.5% in October to 1.462 million tonnes, while LPG consumption increased to 1.4 million tonnes from 1.298 million tonnes in October 2012.

Jet fuel sales too increased to 4,64,000 tonnes from 4,34,000 tonnes last year.

India, the world's fourth largest energy consumer, imported 5.6% less crude oil at 15.625 million tonnes in October.

Oil product imports, however, soared 32.8% to 1.497 million tonnes with LPG accounting for the bulk of it.

Exports dropped to 6.227 million tonnes from 6.402 million tonnes in October last year.