Indian oil-demand growth hits the road
Economic expansion and more drivers mean the country needs much more fuel
The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects India to drive global oil-demand growth between now and 2040, accounting for around a quarter of total consumption by then. The pace will accelerate next year, driven by surging passenger-vehicle sales and government initiatives to encourage use of cleaner cooking fuels. The country's total crude demand will rise by 400,000 barrels a day next year, reaching 4.8m b/d, according to consultancy Energy Aspects. This year, growth is expected to come in at 300,000 b/d. India consumed 4.1m b/d in 2015. The IEA is slightly less bullish, expecting around a 300,000 b/d rise both this and next year. Between April and August this year Indian oil-product cons
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026






