India’s fuel consumption drops amid heavy rainfall

Indian state retailers' gasoline and diesel sales fell in the first half of August from the previous month and a year ago, preliminary sales data showed on Wednesday, as industrial activity and mobility were hit due to monsoon rains.

Fuel demand in India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, typically falls during the four-month monsoon season beginning in June as parts of the country are affected by heavy floods.

State retailers sold 1.19 million metric tons of gasoline in the first half of August, down 5.2 percent from the same period in July and by 8 percent from a year earlier, the data showed. Gasoline, also called petrol, is primarily used in passenger vehicles.