India's crude oil imports dip 12.1 percent

India's crude oil imports fell 12.1 per cent in April on lower buying by private refiners while the nation's fuel consumption was up only marginally despite hectic electioneering during the period.

The Asia's third largest energy consumer imported 9.7 million tonnes of crude oil in April as Essar Oil shut its Vadinar refinery for maintenance, according to the data available from oil ministry. India had imported 11.04 million tonnes of crude oil in April 2008.

Fuel consumption rose 1 per cent to 11.58 million tonnes against 11.47 million tonnes a year ago. Diesel, the most consumed fuel, saw a moderate 4.8 per cent rise to 4.72 million tonnes while petrol sales jumped 7.8 per cent to 1.01 million tonnes.

LPG, naphtha and aviation turbine fuel demand fell. ATF sales was down 3.2 per cent to 3,77,400 tonnes.

Cheaper natural gas replaced naphtha, which saw 39 per cent fall in demand to 292,100 tonnes. Oil product imports was down 11 per cent to 2.17 million tonnes.

Petroleum product exports dipped 37.8 per cent to 1.78 million tonnes in April. Diesel exports was down 26.6 per cent to 781,000 tonnes.

source - pti