Sharp Spike in Petrol, Diesel Demand in Maharashtra; PSU Oil Firms Assure Uninterrupted Supply
Mumbai, 21st May 2026 : Public sector oil marketing companies have reported a sharp rise in fuel consumption across Maharashtra over the past two weeks, driven largely by seasonal agricultural activity and increased customer movement towards PSU-operated fuel stations due to lower retail prices.
Officials from Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited said fuel supplies across the state continue uninterrupted despite the surge in demand for petrol and diesel.
According to Mihir Ganesh Joshi, State Level Coordinator (Oil Industry) for Maharashtra, public sector fuel outlets have witnessed a substantial increase in sales as institutional buyers and retail consumers shifted from private suppliers to PSU pumps. The demand spike has also coincided with peak agricultural operations in several districts.
Data released by the oil companies showed that diesel sales in Maharashtra rose by 19.66 per cent during the first fortnight of May 2026, while petrol sales increased by 20.39 per cent during the same period. Officials said 267 TKL of petrol and 502 TKL of diesel were supplied across the state in the first two weeks of May.
The upward trend continued in the third week as well. Petrol sales reportedly grew by 34 per cent, 21 per cent and 18 per cent on May 18, 19 and 20 respectively, while diesel demand increased by 49 per cent, 42 per cent and 40 per cent during the same period.
Despite the higher consumption, oil companies said supply chains remained stable and inventories were adequate to meet requirements across Maharashtra. Fuel movement is being managed through terminals, depots, LPG bottling plants, pipelines and retail outlets operating round the clock, officials said.
The companies also said they were coordinating closely with the state administration to ensure uninterrupted fuel distribution and appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying. Consumers were advised to rely only on official communication regarding fuel availability.
