Petroleum Export Levels and Value Decreased by 12.5% and 35% in April Respectively
India’s Petroleum Product Exports Decline in April 2025
In April 2025, India witnessed a reduction of 12.5% in the volume and 35% in the value of its petroleum product exports. The primary reasons for this decline were the decrease in high-speed diesel (HSD) and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) shipments. Despite temporary refinery maintenance, future exports are expected to remain robust. Data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell revealed that India’s petroleum product exports fell by 12.5% in volume terms, dropping to 4.2 million tonnes from 4.8 million tonnes in April 2024.
The decline in exports was mainly attributed to the reduced shipments of HSD and ATF. The value of exports also declined by nearly 35% to $2.4 billion compared to $3.7 billion in the previous year. Imports of refined oil products also decreased by 9% to 3.9 million tonnes in April, with the import bill reducing by 14% to $1.8 billion.
During April 2025, imports of LPG, lubes, and petcoke accounted for a significant share of total petroleum products import. India’s consumption of petroleum products remained stagnant at 20.1 million tonnes compared to the previous year. However, the country expects domestic petroleum product demand to reach a record 252.9 million tonnes in fiscal year 2026.
Kpler reported that India’s export of petroleum products in April declined by 22% to 1.12 million barrels per day, with the UAE, Singapore, and the Netherlands being the top destinations. Despite a temporary decline in crude processing volumes, export volumes are expected to remain strong in the upcoming months.
While the US imposed reciprocal tariffs on India, exemptions for certain goods like energy have been granted. This has provided relief to the energy markets amidst global uncertainties and disruptions in global shipping. The industry anticipates a muted impact on Indian exports of petroleum products due to these exemptions.
