Mumbai, June 01: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) maintained uninterrupted fuel and LPG supplies across India in May 2026 as nationwide fuel consumption rose sharply, driven by transportation, agriculture and freight demand during the peak summer season.
India’s overall fuel sales increased 6.4% year-on-year in May, with petrol sales rising 3.4% and diesel demand registering a robust 8% growth, according to company data.
To meet rising demand, HPCL distributed 12.85 lakh kilolitres of petrol and 21.49 lakh kilolitres of diesel through its nationwide retail network during the month, ensuring uninterrupted supplies without any reported disruption.
The company’s supply chain operated at significant scale, dispatching 2.35 lakh fuel tankers carrying petrol, diesel and SKO-PDS products. This translated into more than 7,500 tanker movements daily, or nearly one tanker movement every 11 seconds across highways, urban centres, rural markets and remote regions.
Fuel demand accelerated amid extreme summer conditions, with temperatures crossing 40 degrees Celsius across several parts of the country. Diesel consumption, in particular, surged as agricultural activity intensified during the Kharif sowing season.
Higher use of tractors, irrigation pumps and harvest-linked logistics, coupled with increased freight transportation and commercial movement, contributed to stronger diesel demand across India’s retail fuel network.
HPCL also strengthened LPG distribution during the month, delivering 393 lakh LPG cylinders to households nationwide. The company supplied 7,00,867 units of 5-kg cylinders and 35,795 units of 2-kg cylinders, helping improve access to clean cooking fuel among smaller households and communities where standard domestic cylinders may be less practical.
Digital platforms continued to support delivery efficiency, with nearly 99.3% of LPG bookings processed online, enabling faster allocation, real-time tracking and improved customer service.
Year-on-year fuel growth remained broad-based. Petrol retail sales increased to 950 TMT in May 2026 from 919 TMT a year earlier, while diesel retail sales climbed to 1,882 TMT compared with 1,742 TMT in May 2025.
The 8% increase in diesel sales reflected stronger logistics activity and heightened agricultural demand across the country’s highway and rural transport networks.
Alongside supply operations, HPCL increased monitoring across its LPG distribution network. During May, the company conducted 1,818 inspections covering stock verification, cylinder weight checks and last-mile delivery compliance. Enforcement action was initiated against 70 distributors during the period.
HPCL said it remains focused on ensuring uninterrupted fuel and LPG availability through technology-enabled operations, robust supply chain management and coordinated nationwide logistics.
