 "fuel")
Indian state fuel retailers' gasoil and gasoline sales during July 1-16 declined from the same period in the previous month, preliminary data showed, as widespread heavy rain upended travel demand.
Daily sales of gasoil fell by 19.7per cent to about 2.96 million metric tons in July compared with June, the data showed.
Fuel demand in the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer typically drops during the four-month monsoon season that begins in June as parts of the country are hit by heavy floods.
Demand from the agriculture sector also gets affected in this period due to fewer irrigation-related requirements.
State retailers' gasoil sales were further hit as private refiner Reliance Industries Ltd is selling the fuel at cheaper rates.
Gasoil accounts for about two-fifths of India's overall refined fuel consumption and is directly linked to industrial activity in Asia's third-largest economy.
State fuel retailers' daily gasoline sales were down by 10.8per cent month-on-month in July at around 1.26 million metric tons, the data showed.
State-run retailers and refiners - Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum - own about 90per cent of India's retail fuel outlets.
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