India's crude oil imports rose by 12.5 per cent to 8.45 million tonnes in September 2004 as against 7.51 million tonnes imported in September 2003 according to the latest data released by the petroleum ministry in New Delhi.

Oil product imports jumped 18.1 per cent to 667,700 tonnes on the back of a surge in liquefied petroleum gas and naphtha imports.

India imported 240,900 tonnes of LPG in September 2004 as against 154,100 tonnes last year. Naphtha imports went up by 31.8 per cent to 218,500 tonnes.

Exports were up by 2.9 per cent to 1.66 million tonnes with diesel being the single largest commodity in the oil export basket. However, diesel exports at 730,500 tonnes were down 14.8 per cent from 857,500 tonnes in September 2003.

Petroleum exports also declined 21.3 per cent to 223,300 tonnes. During September, India's domestic oil consumption rose 5.9 per cent to 8.88 million tonnes mainly due to renewed demand for diesel, which clocked a handsome 19.6 per cent increase to 3.13 million tonnes.

LPG and petrol demand rose by 8.9 per cent each to 845,300 and 680,400 tonnes respectively. Crude oil imports in the first six months of the current fiscal rose 13 per cent to 49.67 million tonnes while imports of oil products was up 1.8 per cent to 3.2 million tonnes.

Exports of petroleum products increased 2.1 per cent to 7.46 million tonnes. In April-September, India's oil product demand grew by 6.1 per cent to 54.69 million tonnes with diesel consumption rising by 11.4 per cent to 19.5 million tonnes.

LPG consumption rose 13.1 per cent to 4.87 million tonnes in April-September while its imports were up 51.8 per cent to 808,400 tonnes.

Naphtha imports rose 17.3 per cent to 1.15 million tonnes even as the country also exported 996,400 tonnes of naphtha during the first half of the current fiscal. Kerosene imports have fallen to nil after the government banned import of the fuel by private firms.