Crude oil imports fell to 14.61 million tonnes, it’s lowest since 2015, Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell data showed on Friday.
Oil products imports eased 0.8% to 3.57 million tonnes year-on-year, while exports rose by 5.9% to 5.75 million tonnes, gaining for a ninth straight month in May as slowing demand at home prompted companies to ship more oil overseas.
The country has relaxed coronavirus-led restrictions in lower risk areas, which is expected to improve demand and scale up crude processing.
The latest data bolstered those expectations with India’s fuel demand jumping nearly 50% in May from the previous month, signalling a slow revival of economic activity.
However, industry analysts expect a full-scale recovery to pre-COVID-19 consumption levels in India to be months away as the monsoon season approaches while manufacturing activities remain low and transportation demand takes a hit in some parts of the country.
Diesel exports, which continued to account for a major share of exports, increased by nearly 33% to 2.79 million tonnes.
India revised down its crude oil imports figure for April to 16.55 million tonnes- a decline of 16% year-on-year, from 17.28 million tonnes reported earlier, the data showed.
Read More: India’s May crude oil imports post biggest decline since at least 2005 – ET