KARACHI, Sept 1: The consumption of furnace oil, motor gasoline, kerosene and JP-1 has declined by 6.8pc, 3pc, 28.9pc and 9.6pc in July 2008 mainly due to rising oil prices.

According to an analytical report about the use of petroleum products in the first month of current fiscal year, the consumption of furnace oil stood at 0.645 million tons, gasoline 0.118 million tons, kerosene 0.14 million tons and JP-1 at 74 million tons.

However, the consumption of high speed diesel (HSD) surged by 16.5pc at 0.75 million tons in the month under review.

The report further said that except HSD and lubes, all major categories including furnace oil, gasoline, kerosene, LDO and JP-1 exhibited a fall in consumption in the range of 3pc-35pc.

The overall sale of POL products during the month rose by just 1.2 per cent to 1.65 million tons as compared to 1.63 million tons in the same month last year.

The report said that local oil refineries had also slashed their production due to falling demand.—APP