LPG consumption plunged in March while oil sales soared

BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) -- Unlike rapidly growing demand for oil, the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dropped 10.34% year-on-year in March to 490,000 tons and its import fell to 22,000 tons because of economic situations and lower oil prices. Witoon Kulcharoenwirat, director-general of the Department of Energy Business, said while the consumption of oil exceeded 90 million liters a day, the sales of LPG dropped 4.74% from the amount in February. Compared with figures in February, household consumption of LPG fell 5.54% to 177,000 tons and consumption in the transport sector dropped 1.23% to 127,000 tons in March. The consumption in industries rose 0.82% to 54,700 tons. “The economy slowed down due to declining export. Oil prices are low and LPG consumers turn more to oil. Consequently the import plunged 53.94% from 44,700 tons in February 2016 to 22,000 tons in March,” Mr Witoon said. The sales of compressed natural gas amounted to 8.47 million kilograms per day in March, compared with 8.23 million kilograms per day in February. The sales of gasoline stood at 28.23 million liters per day in March, rising 11.11% year-on-year. Diesel consumption amounted to 64.45 million per day. (END)