Driving activity in India picks up pace

Vehicle movements and driving activity in India increased this month after many states eased lockdowns following a dip in new Covid-19 cases.

Total Covid-19 cases have risen to nearly 30mn in India, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, making it the second most-infected country after the US. But new daily cases in the country have come down to about 53,000 as of 21 June from over 400,000 in early May.

Average driving activity across India stood 3.7pc below a 13 January 2020 baseline as of 20 June compared with 43pc below the baseline in May, according to mobility data from US technology firm Apple. Average driving activity was 4.4pc below the same baseline in April when many Indian states started to impose strict lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus.

The jump in activity was reflected in a pick-up in motor fuel demand. Consumption of diesel and gasoline rose in the first half of June by 12pc and 13pc respectively from the same period in May, according to data from state-controlled refiners that account for around 90pc of India's fuel sales.

Indian state-controlled refiners have increased run rates on expectations that demand will recover in the coming months.

By Sathya Narayanan