(Representative image)

NEW DELHI: A drop in the consumption of diesel and industrial fuels dragged India's fuel demand to its lowest level in more than two years in September, reflecting the slowing pace of economic growth.

According to data released by the oil ministry's market tracker PPAC (Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell), the consumption of petroleum products in September dropped to 16.01 million tonnes, its lowest since July 2017, from 16.06mt (million tonne) in the same month last year.

The drop in diesel and industrial fuels erased the impact of higher consumption of petrol and LPG, the latter because of the Centre's Ujjwala scheme for giving universal access to clean cooking fuel.

Consumption of diesel, the largest-selling motor fuel, dropped by 3.2% to 5.8mt. But petrol sales rose 6.2% to 2.37mt and LPG consumption surged 6% to 2.18mt.

