ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s petroleum products consumption posted a strong rebound in July 2026 despite record-high fuel prices, with total sales rising to 1.51 million tonnes, according to industry documents.


The documents show that petroleum sales increased 23 percent year-on-year compared with July 2025, while month-on-month sales were up 20 percent from June 2026.


Excluding furnace oil, total petroleum products sales stood at 1.43 million tonnes, reflecting an 18 percent annual increase. The volume marked the highest level of petroleum consumption recorded for the month of July since 2021, indicating robust demand across key fuel categories.


Motor gasoline (petrol) registered strong growth, with sales rising 19 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month. The total volume of petrol sold reached its highest level since June 2022, the documents said.


High-speed diesel (HSD) also recorded significant gains during the month. Diesel sales increased 23 percent compared with July last year and were 25 percent higher than in June 2026, reflecting stronger demand from the transport, agriculture and industrial sectors.


The sharp increase in fuel consumption comes despite a sustained rise in domestic petroleum prices, suggesting resilient economic activity and higher transportation and industrial demand.


Industry analysts said the latest figures point to a continued recovery in petroleum demand, with both petrol and diesel consumption showing broad-based growth across the country.