Karachi: Pakistan's oil marketing companies reported a 6% year-on-year increase in sales for December 2025, reaching 1.35 million tons, according to recent industry data. However, sales saw a 5% month-on-month decline, attributed to a nationwide strike by transporters that began on December 8 and lasted for ten days.
The rise in year-on-year sales was driven by economic recovery, reduced inflation rates, and measures to curb smuggling. This growth brings the total sales for the first half of the fiscal year 2026 to 8.2 million tons, marking a 2% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Excluding furnace oil, sales in December 2025 were 1.29 million tons, showing a 5% year-on-year increase but a 7% decrease from the previous month. For the first half of fiscal year 2026, sales excluding furnace oil totaled 8.0 million tons, reflecting a 4% annual rise.
Motor spirit prices saw a slight decrease in December, averaging Rs263.45 per liter, while high-speed diesel prices dropped by 3% to Rs272.65 per liter from November's average of Rs281.44 per liter. Motor spirit sales rose 11% year-on-year and 3% month-on-month to 628,000 tons. Meanwhile, high-speed diesel sales fell 4% year-on-year and 19% month-on-month to 553,000 tons.
Furnace oil sales experienced significant growth, increasing by 40% year-on-year and 130% month-on-month to 58,000 tons.
Among listed companies, Attock Petroleum's sales decreased by 7% year-on-year and 5% month-on-month to 103,000 tons in December, primarily due to lower furnace oil sales. The company held a market share of 8.65% for high-speed diesel and 7.72% for motor spirit.
Pakistan State Oil recorded a 7% year-on-year and 17% month-on-month decline in sales, totaling 535,000 tons in December. The company's market share for motor spirit and high-speed diesel stood at 36.65% and 40.17%, respectively, reflecting month-on-month decreases.
Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited reported a 10% year-on-year increase in sales to 104,000 tons, despite a 7% month-on-month decline. HASCOL's sales rose by 9% year-on-year and 40% month-on-month to 47,000 tons.
Looking ahead to the remainder of fiscal year 2026, industry analysts project oil sales growth in the range of 7-10%. The government has set a petroleum development levy collection target of Rs1.47 trillion for the fiscal year, with Rs739 billion, or 50%, collected in the first half.