Public Demand for Petrol and Diesel Crashes in June 2026

Pakistan’s oil marketing companies (OMCs) recorded a sharp decline in petroleum sales during June 2026, with total sales falling 20 percent year-on-year to 1.26 million tons, according to Arif Habib Limited.

The brokerage said the decline was primarily driven by weaker demand for both motor spirit (MS) and high-speed diesel (HSD). Diesel sales fell 20 percent year-on-year to 500,000 tons, while petrol sales declined 11 percent to 650,000 tons. Furnace oil (FO) also dropped sharply by 68 percent to 40,000 tons.

According to the report, the weaker diesel demand was likely due to elevated domestic HSD prices and the resurgence of cross-border fuel smuggling, while furnace oil demand remained under pressure because of lower power generation from oil-fired plants.

Despite the yearly decline, fuel sales improved on a monthly basis. Total OMC sales increased 7 percent from May to 1.26 million tonnes after petroleum prices declined following lower international crude oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions.

Petrol sales rose 5 percent month-on-month, diesel sales increased 9 percent, while furnace oil registered the strongest recovery with a 41 percent increase.

For FY2025-26, however, total OMC sales remained broadly unchanged at 16.19 million tons, reflecting flat annual growth. Strong demand during the first three quarters of the fiscal year was largely offset by weaker sales in the final quarter following the onset of the Iran-Israel conflict and changing market dynamics.

Among listed companies, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) remained the market leader with cumulative sales of 9.28 million tons during FY26, followed by Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) at 1.73 million tons, Shell Pakistan at 1.32 million tons, Hascol Petroleum at 500,000 tons and Wafi Energy Pakistan (formerly Total PARCO) at 110,000 tons.

PSO continued to dominate the market with nearly 57 percent share of total industry sales during the fiscal year.