Petroleum Sales Rise in December 2025

Pakistan’s oil marketing companies (OMCs) posted a 6% year-on-year increase in total sales volume in December 2025, reaching 1.35 million tons compared to 1.28 million tons in December 2024, according to data released by Arif Habib Limited.

However, on a month-on-month basis, industry-wide sales slipped 5% from November’s 1.42 million tons.

Cumulatively, OMC sales for the first half of FY26 rose 2% to 8.16 million tons, up from 8.03 million tons in the same period last year.

Product-Wise Performance

Motor Spirit (MS) sales climbed 11% year-on-year to 0.63 million tons, while High-Speed Diesel (HSD) sales increased 3% to 0.65 million tons. Furnace Oil (FO) sales, however, plunged 54% year-on-year despite a 40% month-on-month jump in December.

Company-Wise Breakdown

Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the market leader, saw its total sales fall 7% year-on-year to 0.53 million tons in December. PSO’s MS sales were down 5% YoY, HSD sales dropped 6%, and FO sales declined 71%.

Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) reported a 7% YoY decrease in total sales to 0.10 million tons, with HSD down 10% and MS down 3%. FO sales fell 74% year-on-year.

WAFI Petroleum, in contrast, posted a 10% YoY increase in total sales to 0.10 million tons, driven by a 31% jump in HSD sales and a 2% rise in MS sales.

HASCOL Petroleum’s total sales rose 40% year-on-year to 0.05 million tons, with MS up 6% and HSD up 13%.

First Half FY26 Overview

For the first half of FY26, total industry sales reached 8.16 million tons, up 2% from 8.03 million tons in the same period last year. MS and HSD sales both increased by 3%, while FO sales decreased by 54%.

Despite the rise in sales, the financial position of oil marketing companies remained under strain. A report by advisory firm Mountain Ventures said regulated fuel pricing, persistent discounting, and rising capital requirements continued to squeeze industry economics.

The report noted that the market remains highly fragmented, with 45 licensed oil marketing companies operating across the country.

While volumes are increasingly concentrated among a few large players, smaller operators face difficulty maintaining pricing discipline and investing in storage, digitisation, and retail infrastructure.

According to the report, uncertainty over the infrastructure development cess and sales tax recoverability has increased working capital pressures.

At the same time, regulators are placing greater emphasis on digitization and enforcement, signaling a shift towards margin relief tied to compliance rather than across-the-board pricing adjustments.