Riding high on reversal of fortunes in diesel demand, India's petroleum product sales soared by 5.9 per cent to 7.93 million tonnes in November 2003, a reflection of upbeat industrial activity in the country.

Reversing the trend of the last one year, diesel sales jumped by over 10 per cent to 3.33 million tonnes as against 3.02 million tonnes diesel sold in November 2002, sources in the ministry of petroleum & natural gas said.

Demand for diesel, which makes up for one-third of the petroleum product basket in India, declined by 1.6 per cent to 23.92 million tonnes in the first eight months of 2003-04 compared with 24.3 million tonnes diesel sold in the same period the previous financial year.

Officials attributed the jump in demand to increased consumption in agriculture sector after a good monsoon and hectic industrial activity.

In April-November, petroleum product demand fell 0.6 per cent at 59.06 million tonnes as opposed to 59.4 million tonnes consumption in the first eight months of 2002-03.

Petrol sales rose 7.7 per cent to 652,900 tonnes in November and by 3.9 per cent to 5.24 million tonnes in April-November 2003.