By Rakesh Sharma

       The diesel market in India is losing momentum as the pace of demand growth eases, casting a pall over the world’s third-largest oil importer as the economy expands at a slower pace and consumption patterns shift.

       Sales of the fuel used to power trucks and farm machinery were flat at 7.64 million tonnes in October from a year earlier, according to preliminary oil ministry data. In the first 10 months of 2024, volumes expanded by just 1.8 per cent, the slowest pace since 2020, when pandemic lockdowns hit demand.

       Diesel accounts for about four barrels in every 10 of oil used in India, and the softness comes just as signs of weak buying have been seen in China and Europe. That’s potentially a headwind for crude prices, with investors also grappling with market cross-currents thrown up by OPEC+ supply policy, the US presidential election, and prospects for a global oil glut in 2025.

       “The consumption of goods in smaller towns and cities of India has not picked up at the pace that was expected,” said R. Ramachandran, former director of refineries at Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd. “This has in all likelihood impacted the movement of trucks that transport goods, hurting diesel demand. Also, rains this year got extended, further adding to pressure on diesel sales for farm sector.”

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       The listless demand for diesel last month contrasts with patterns seen in other key petroleum products. Gasoline sales jumped 8.4 per cent in October on-year to 3.4 million tonnes, while jet-fuel volumes swelled by 8.6 per cent to 751,000 tonnes.

       “India’s oil-demand profile is evolving, with a noticeable shift from diesel to gasoline,” said Esteban Moreno Cots, senior demand analyst at Kpler. “This transition is supported by rising consumer spending, and an expanding middle class.”

       For the full year, diesel demand is projected to grow by 2.2 per cent, followed by 2.5 per cent in 2025, according to Kpler. “We observe a moderation in the growth rate compared to the post-pandemic recovery,” he said.

       Slowing growth

       While India’s economic growth has slowed, it remains one of the stronger performers in emerging markets, a trend that typically aids diesel consumption. Gross domestic product rose 6.7 per cent in the three months to June, the slowest pace in five quarters. Among other signals, industrial production contracted for the first time in almost two years in August.

       In China, the largest oil importer, diesel demand has been contracting because of the spread of trucks powered by liquefied natural gas, and the drawn-out property crisis. In Europe, meanwhile, diesel futures recently flipped into contango, a bearish structure with prompt prices cheaper than those further out.

       India’s diesel demand is contingent on the health of the economy, according to Ramachandran. Also, there’s no major threat yet from alternatives such as LNG in trucking, which is in its initial stages locally, he said

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