Fuel sales slump 50% in April; petrol down 64%, diesel 61%, ATF 94%

Industry officials said this is the biggest ever drop in sales and the first data for the complete lockdown period

India's fuel consumption slumped by a record 50 per cent in April as all petroleum products except LPG saw massive demand erosion following a nationwide lockdown halted economic activity and travel.

According to provisional industry data for fuel consumption in the first half of April, petrol sales were down 64 per cent, while diesel slumped by 61 per cent.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) consumption collapsed by 94 per cent as most airlines have stopped flying.

The only fuel that showed growth was LPG as the government dole of free cooking gas cylinders to poor households fired up consumption by 21