How much fuel oil and low sulphur heavy stock does India sell, how much of it goes to shipping, and why does the 2024-25 total differ between tables?

The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) puts fuel oil and low sulphur heavy stock (FO/LSHS) sales at 6,377 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) in 2025-26. Shipping took 29% and ceramic and glass 1%. For 2024-25 the Reckoner prints three totals: 6.4 million, 6,497 thousand and, in the sector chart, 5,720 thousand tonnes.

Who burned it in 2025-26

• Total 6,377 TMT in the sector chart, which matches Table 6.8 for the year. This figure includes low sulphur heavy stock (LSHS), and PPAC gives no furnace-oil-only figure. Tables 6.1 and 6.8 print one row for fuel oil (FO) and LSHS; the sector chart is headed FO and carries the same total.
• Shares of that chart, in whole percent, with approximate tonnes: miscellaneous 41% (about 2,615), shipping 29% (1,849), aluminium 7% (446), iron and steel (metallurgy) 6% (383), fertilizer 6% (383), power generation 5% (319), chemicals and allied 3% (191), mining and quarrying 2% (128), ceramic and glass 1% (64). The shares add to 100.
• The Reckoner's end-use table (9.6) describes the product as a secondary fuel for thermal power plants, fuel or feedstock for fertiliser plants, and industrial units.

Three numbers for 2024-25

• Table 6.1: 6.4 million metric tonnes (MMT).
• Table 6.8: 6,497 TMT (public sector undertakings 5,770 and private sellers 728, which add to 6,498).
• The 2024-25 sector chart: 5,720 TMT.
• Table 6.2 prints the 2025-26 change as minus 0.9%. Table 6.8 would give minus 1.8% (6,377 against 6,497), and the sector chart would give plus 11.5% (against 5,720).
• Table 6.2's minus 0.9% implies about 6,435 for 2024-25, which fits Table 6.1's 6.4 million but not Table 6.8's 6,497 (6.5 million). That is why the printed growth rate is the safer year-on-year figure. This is an inference from the printed figures, not a PPAC statement.

Which to use

The Reckoner does not say why the 2024-25 sector chart total differs from the consumption table. Table 6.8 says consumption is oil company sales plus private imports plus Special Economic Zone (SEZ) sales to the Domestic Tariff Area, while the chart is headed sectoral sales. That may be the difference, but it is our reading and PPAC does not confirm it. The 2025-26 chart and table agree at 6,377, so the 2025-26 shares are safe to quote. For a year-on-year change, use the Reckoner's printed growth rate, or say which table you used.

Why the shipping slice matters

Shipping alone is 29% of the sales. A line such as India burns six million tonnes of furnace oil in factories overstates industry by that amount. On these rounded shares ceramic and glass is about 64 TMT, the smallest named slice in the chart.

Arithmetic from the printed figures

• Shipping: 29% of 6,377 = about 1,849 TMT
• Ceramic and glass: 1% of 6,377 = about 64 TMT
• 2025-26 against Table 6.8's 2024-25: 6,377 / 6,497 = 0.9815, minus 1.8%
• 2025-26 against the chart's 2024-25: 6,377 / 5,720 = 1.115, plus 11.5%
• Table 6.8 rows for 2024-25: 5,770 + 728 = 6,498, one above the printed 6,497

Sector tonnes come from whole-percent shares and are approximate, good to roughly 30 TMT.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and bills into records, so furnace oil litres or tonnes bought are on file. It does not benchmark you against national sector shares.

• Furnace oil tonne to kilolitre
• Furnace oil litres to kilograms
• Which fuel line fits a furnace oil blend
• Furnace oil to piped natural gas switch

Sources: PPAC Ready Reckoner FY 2025-26, Tables 6.1, 6.2, 6.8, 9.6 and the sector-wise fuel oil charts

Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Figures are PPAC's for April to March and may be revised. The three 2024-25 totals are printed as shown; PPAC gives no reconciliation, so this page does not pick one.