<p> India's crude oil imports touched 7-year high in August as oil companies stepped up purchases to meet galloping domestic fuel demand.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Indian refiners imported 18.81 million tons crude oil in August, 9.1 per cent higher than 17.23 million tons imported in the same month a year ago, according to the oil ministry's Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell.<br /><br />That is the highest monthly crude oil import since April 2009. India paid Rs 39,030 crore for crude oil imports in August, as opposed to Rs 39,024 crore a year ago.<br /><br />Asia's third largest economy is witnessing fastest pace of fuel consumption growth among major economies.<br /><br />India's fuel consumption rose 11.4 per cent to 15.8 million tons in August with petrol demand reaching a record 25 per cent (2.2 million tons).<br /><br />Diesel sales rose to 6.1 million tons in August from 5.4 million tons a year ago. LPG consumption was up 20 per cent to 1.8 million tons. ATF demand also rose by same proportion to 0.6 million tons.<br /><br />Except for naphtha and kerosene, all other products registered positive growth during August.<br /><br />During the April-August period of the current fiscal, fuel consumption rose 9.3 to 80.4 million tons. Petrol demand rose 13.6 per cent while diesel sale was up 6 per cent at 32.1 million tons.<br /><br />The data showed crude oil processing by the refineries during August rising to 20.28 million tons from 19.,61 million tons a year ago.<br /><br />On cumulative basis, crude oil processed in the fist five months of 2016-17 by refineries was 101.78 million tons as against crude oil processing of 94.56 million tons in the same period last year.</p>
<p> India's crude oil imports touched 7-year high in August as oil companies stepped up purchases to meet galloping domestic fuel demand.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Indian refiners imported 18.81 million tons crude oil in August, 9.1 per cent higher than 17.23 million tons imported in the same month a year ago, according to the oil ministry's Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell.<br /><br />That is the highest monthly crude oil import since April 2009. India paid Rs 39,030 crore for crude oil imports in August, as opposed to Rs 39,024 crore a year ago.<br /><br />Asia's third largest economy is witnessing fastest pace of fuel consumption growth among major economies.<br /><br />India's fuel consumption rose 11.4 per cent to 15.8 million tons in August with petrol demand reaching a record 25 per cent (2.2 million tons).<br /><br />Diesel sales rose to 6.1 million tons in August from 5.4 million tons a year ago. LPG consumption was up 20 per cent to 1.8 million tons. ATF demand also rose by same proportion to 0.6 million tons.<br /><br />Except for naphtha and kerosene, all other products registered positive growth during August.<br /><br />During the April-August period of the current fiscal, fuel consumption rose 9.3 to 80.4 million tons. Petrol demand rose 13.6 per cent while diesel sale was up 6 per cent at 32.1 million tons.<br /><br />The data showed crude oil processing by the refineries during August rising to 20.28 million tons from 19.,61 million tons a year ago.<br /><br />On cumulative basis, crude oil processed in the fist five months of 2016-17 by refineries was 101.78 million tons as against crude oil processing of 94.56 million tons in the same period last year.</p>