Representative image. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Fourteen districts in the country saw the demand for petrol double while six districts have witnessed the same for diesel, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Union Petroleum Ministry told reporters at the bi-weekly inter-ministerial briefing on the situation in West Asia on Friday (May 29, 2026).
Ms. Sharma informed that approximately 150 districts across the country have observed a more than thirty per-cent increase in petrol sales, whilst 156 districts have observed similar growth for diesel.
“There are about 150 districts where a more than thirty percent growth in petrol sales have been observed with about 14 districts seeing more than hundred per-cent increase,” she stated, adding, “As for diesel, 156 districts have observed more than thirty per cent growth with six districts posting hundred per-cent growth.”
According to the government, the escalating sales emanate from an increased demand with the onset of the agricultural season, consumers of bulk diesel shifting to make purchases from retail segment because of a price differential and consumers increasingly opting for state-run OMCs against those privately-owned.
In separate press statements, the government informed that petrol and diesel sales in Maharashtra increased 17.24% and 27.25% until May 28 in the ongoing month compared to the same period last year.
During the same period, retail sales of diesel in South Goa and North Goa rose 19.36% and 14.27% respectively.
Published – May 29, 2026 08:22 pm IST
