OMC sales rise 9% in Oct on diesel demand rebound
Pakistan’s oil marketing companies (OMCs) sold 1.5mn tons of petroleum products in October 2025, up 9% month-on-month but flat year-on-year, as diesel demand rebounded with the start of the kharif crop harvesting season and post-flood recovery across major agricultural regions.
Total industry sales reached 5.4mn tons in the first four months of FY26, 4% higher than 5.2mn tons recorded in the same period last year, according to industry data. Excluding furnace oil, October volumes were 1.47mn tons—up 2% year-on-year and 8% month-on-month—bringing ex-FO sales for 4MFY26 to 5.3mn tons, an 8% increase.
Read More: OMCs sales up 8% in September 2025
High-speed diesel (HSD) led the monthly growth, rising 21% from September and 4% from a year earlier to 714,000 tons, supported by strong rural transport and threshing activity.
In contrast, motor spirit (MS) sales declined 2% year-on-year and 4% month-on-month to 657,000 tons, as elevated pump prices weighed on private consumption. MS averaged Rs265.85 per litre in October, up Rs1.24 from September, while HSD averaged Rs276.11 per litre, up Rs4.73.
Furnace oil (FO) demand plunged 52% year-on-year to just 28,000 tons but was up 2.1 times month-on-month, driven mainly by sales from CYNERGY, Pakistan State Oil (PSO), and Pearl PARCO. FO’s structural decline continues amid limited power-sector offtake following lower furnace oil-based generation.
Among listed entities, PSO’s sales fell 8% year-on-year but rose 13% month-on-month to 643,000 tons in October. Its market share in MS and HSD reached 38.82% and 43.34%, respectively, lifting its overall share to 42.95%, up 138 basis points from September.
Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) sold 124,000 tons, flat year-on-year and 7% higher month-on-month, holding 8.41% of the MS market and 8.38% in HSD. Wafi Energy posted 121,000 tons in sales, up 14% year-on-year, while Hascol Petroleum slipped 9% to 42,000 tons.
According to the Ministry of Energy, steady industrial recovery and easing logistics disruptions have supported demand normalization since late Q1FY26. The government has targeted Rs1.47 trillion in Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) collections for FY26, with Rs493 billion—or 34%—collected in the first four months, reflecting resilient downstream flows despite high domestic fuel costs.
With expectations of a 7–10% rise in total oil sales for FY26, Topline analysts note that sector momentum will hinge on stable exchange rates, crude price trends, and continued agricultural recovery through the rabi season. OMCs such as Pakistan State Oil and Attock Petroleum are likely to benefit from sustained HSD demand and gradual improvement in retail fuel margins.
