MAHARASHTRA has recorded around 20 per cent rise in the sale of petrol and diesel in the first fortnight of May amid panic buying triggered by fears of a possible disruption in fuel supplies due to the West Asia crisis, the State Government said. A statement issued by the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department on Friday said the State recorded a 19.66 per cent increase in diesel sales and a 20.39 per cent rise in petrol sales during the first fortnight of May 2026. Panic buying trends led to the surge in fuel sales across the state. Despite the temporary spike in demand, fuel supplies remained uninterrupted and all demand was fully met, it said.

 

The department, however, did not provide actual statewide sales figures for the fortnight and only shared percentage increases in petrol and diesel consumption. The department said that on May 19 alone, diesel sales across Maharashtra surged by 42 per cent and petrol sales by 21 per cent compared to average daily sales, with 11 districts -- Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Buldhana, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Dharashiv, Parbhani and Washim -- reporting unusually high demand.