NEW DELHI : India's petrol sales rose for the first time in the first half of September since the country's lockdown in late March, signalling demand may have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.Petrol sales between September 1 and 15 rose 2.2% year-on-year and were up 7% over the previous month, according to preliminary industry data.Diesel sales continue to be in negative territory, with demand falling 6% year-on-year.
But the demand was 19.3% higher over August 2020.This is the first time that petrol sales in the world's third-largest oil importer have risen since the March 25 nationwide lockdown crippled economic activity and sent demand plummeting.Petrol sales rose to 9,65,000 tonnes during the first half of September as compared to.