Petroleum sales fall as petrol drops 7%, diesel 12% in April on rising prices

Petroleum product sales in Pakistan declined by 7% year-on-year to 1.36 million tonnes in April, compared with 1.45 million tonnes in the same month last year, as higher fuel prices reduced demand.

On a month-on-month basis, total sales fell 6%. Excluding furnace oil (FO), the decline was steeper, with volumes dropping 11% year-on-year and 10% month-on-month to 1.22 million tonnes.

The decline was linked to higher domestic fuel prices following increases in international oil rates. The average price of motor spirit (MS) rose 54% year-on-year to Rs392.64 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) increased 67% to Rs431.97 per litre.

HSD sales fell 12% year-on-year in April, reflecting lower demand and reduced tractor sales, while MS volumes declined 7% under similar price pressures.

In contrast, FO sales rose 63% year-on-year, supported by increased use in power generation due to disruptions in re-gasified liquefied natural gas supplies.

On a monthly basis, MS sales declined 8% to 0.61 million tonnes, while HSD fell 7% to 0.55 million tonnes. FO volumes increased 56% compared to the previous month.

During the first 10 months of FY2026, total petroleum sales increased 4% year-on-year to 13.76 million tonnes, up from 13.22 million tonnes. Excluding FO, sales rose 5% to 13.23 million tonnes.

Product-wise, MS, HSD and FO sales stood at 6.41 million tonnes, 5.90 million tonnes and 0.53 million tonnes, respectively.

Among oil marketing companies, Pakistan State Oil reported a 5% year-on-year decline in April sales to 0.59 million tonnes, with MS and HSD volumes down 10% and 9%, respectively, while FO sales increased.

PSO’s market share declined to 42.4% during July-April FY2026, compared with 44.5% a year earlier.

Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited increased its market share to 12% from 10.2%, while Attock Petroleum Limited recorded a 6% decline in sales to 0.12 million tonnes, with its share easing to 8.2%.

Wafi Energy Pakistan maintained stable volumes, with its market share rising slightly to 8%.

Hascol Petroleum reported a 26% year-on-year decline in sales, with its market share dropping to 3.1%.

Meanwhile, petroleum levy collection during July-April FY2026 reached approximately Rs1.28 trillion.