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Pakistan Sees Sharp Rise in Petrol and Diesel Consumption in November

Carr.pk
Carr.pk
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Pakistan Sees Sharp Rise in Petrol and Diesel Consumption in November - Carr.pk

Pakistan’s refineries sold 978,500 tons of fuel in November 2025, equal to about 978.5 million kg. That’s almost 40% higher than November 2024, according to Arif Habib Research data.

On the surface, it looks like a strong demand story, but there’s a bit more going on. Year-on-year growth is robust, yet total volumes are still 4% lower than in October 2025, so the recovery is healthy but not straight-line.

Petrol Sales Up 30%

Petrol came in at 216,400 tons or 216.4 million kg, showing a 30% year-on-year increase.

Stronger petrol demand usually means more cars and bikes on the road, people travelling, small businesses moving goods, ride-hailing, etc. It suggests that consumer activity is picking up, even as household budgets remain under pressure from inflation and high interest rates.

Diesel: The Main Engine of Growth

High Speed Diesel (HSD) was the real driver. Sales reached 565,900 tons or 565.9 million kg, up a massive 52% year-on-year.

Diesel is the fuel for trucks, buses, and farm machinery, so such a big jump usually points to:

  • More goods are moving across the country
  • Better activity at ports and in logistics
  • Higher agricultural use (harvesting and sowing seasons).

When diesel prices rise, it often signals the economy is starting to move again.

Fuel Oil: Slight Recovery, Still the Weak Link

Fuel oil (FO) sales came in at 154,800 tons, up 12.7% YoY, well behind petrol and diesel.

This aligns with long-term trends:

  • Industries and power producers have gradually shifted away from fuel oil
  • RLNG, gas, coal, and renewables have reduced FO’s role
  • FO demand remains volatile and highly price-dependent

Market Share: PARCO Leads, but Others Are Catching Up

Among refineries, PARCO remained the dominant player with 418,800 tons, securing a 43% market share.

Breakdown of November refinery volumes:

  • PARCO: 418,800 tons (43%)
  • National Refinery Limited: 148,300 tons (15%)
  • Pakistan Refinery Limited: 142,500 tons (15%)
  • Attock Refinery Limited: 140,600 tons (14%)
  • Cnergyico: 128,200 tons (13%)

While PARCO is still the clear market leader, a notable trend is emerging: its market share has slipped from the mid-50s in recent months, and its volumes dropped 13.7% month-on-month.

What This Means for the Economy

The November numbers present a cautiously optimistic picture:

  • Diesel strength = logistics revival + agriculture uplift
  • Petrol growth = improving consumer mobility
  • Fuel oil lag = ongoing structural shift in the power and industrial sectors
  • Refinery balance = improving operational capacity beyond PARCO

Overall, the surge in fuel sales, especially diesel, points toward a pickup in ground-level economic activity as Pakistan enters 2026.

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