How much light diesel oil does India sell, did it grow in 2025-26, and who buys it?

The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) reports light diesel oil (LDO) sales of 1,009 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) in 2025-26, up 20.4% from 838. Power generation took 36% (41% the year before), iron and steel 4% and the unnamed miscellaneous group 60%. Over ten years LDO grew faster than any other product, at 9.5% a year.

The series and the jump

• Table 6.1, in million metric tonnes (MMT) from 2014-15 to 2025-26: 0.4, 0.4, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.6, 0.9, 1.0, 0.7, 0.8, 0.8 and 1.0.
• Table 6.2 prints yearly change from 2020-21: plus 36.2%, plus 19.0%, minus 28.8%, plus 7.9%, plus 7.2% and plus 20.4%. It prints the compound yearly change from 2015-16 to 2025-26 as 9.5%, and the Reckoner's text calls that the highest of any product.
• Table 6.8 prints the thousand-tonne figures: 726, 782, 838 and 1,009 for 2022-23 to 2025-26.

Who buys it

The sector chart for 2025-26 (1,009 TMT) shows power generation 36%, iron and steel (metallurgy) 4% and miscellaneous 60%. For 2024-25 (838 TMT) it shows 41%, 5% and 54%. In tonnes that is about 363 against 344 for power generation, 40 against 42 for iron and steel, and 605 against 453 for miscellaneous. Of the 171 TMT of growth, about 150 is in miscellaneous.

The Reckoner does not say who is in miscellaneous, so a textile or chemical unit cannot find itself in the chart. Its end-use table (9.6) describes LDO as fuel for agricultural pumpsets, small industrial units and start-up fuel for power generation.

Public sector and private sellers

In 2025-26 public sector undertakings sold 698 TMT and private sellers 311, so private was 30.8%. In 2024-25 it was 663 and 175, or 20.9%. The Reckoner notes private includes direct imports as well as marketing by private oil companies.

What to do with it

National growth does not change your factor. LDO is bought by the tonne or the kilolitre, so keep whichever unit the invoice uses, and convert with the density on the delivery paper. The live pages on LDO factors and on tonnes to litres cover that step.

Arithmetic from the printed figures

• Growth: 1,009 / 838 = 1.204, which is plus 20.4%, the figure Table 6.2 prints
• Added tonnes: 1,009 minus 838 = 171 TMT
• Power generation: 36% of 1,009 = about 363; 41% of 838 = about 344; up about 19
• Miscellaneous: 60% of 1,009 = about 605; 54% of 838 = about 453; up about 152
• Private share: 311 / 1,009 = 30.8%; 175 / 838 = 20.9%

Sector tonnes come from whole-percent shares, so each is good to roughly 10 TMT here.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads LDO invoices into records in the unit the invoice prints. It has no sourced LDO factor yet, so that line shows as Missing rather than as an emission figure. It does not tell you which sector your purchases would sit in.

• Factors for light diesel oil and heavy stock invoices
• LDO tonne to litres
• Which fuel line fits a furnace oil blend
• Karnal chemical units on coal and LDO

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

Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Figures are PPAC's for April to March 2025-26 and may be revised in the next Ready Reckoner. Sector tonnes are derived from rounded shares.