Fuel demand in India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, typically falls during the four-month monsoon season that begins in June.

Gasoil demand for Aug. 1-15 fell by about 11.2% to 2.82 million tonnes from the corresponding period last month, while gasoline demand edged up 0.8% to 1.29 million, the data showed.

Apart from the impact on transport and construction, the monsoon rains also affect demand from the agriculture sector, as farmers use gasoil-fired generation sets for irrigation.

Gasoil, which makes up about two-fifths of India's consumption of refined fuel, is directly linked to industrial activity in Asia's third-largest economy.

State retailers Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd own about 90% of India's retail fuel outlets.

India's preliminary fuel sales data, with volumes in thousand tonnes, is mentioned below.

Refined Fuel Aug. 1-15 % chg from % chg % chg vs

July 1-15 yr/yr Aug 2020

Gasoline 1292.4 0.8 30.6 43.4

Gasoil 2820.9 -11.2 32.8 58.2

Jet Fuel 248.1 -0.75 42.4 120.9

Liquefied 1149.7 -7.8 8.19 15.3

Petroleum Gas

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

By Nidhi Verma