Pakistan’s overall refinery upliftment declined 7 percent year-on-year in May 2026 as weaker demand for high-speed diesel (HSD) and furnace oil (FO) outweighed growth in motor spirit (MS), according to industry data.

Total refinery upliftment stood at 927,000 tons in May 2026, down from 997,000 tons in the same month last year. The drop was mainly driven by lower offtake of diesel and furnace oil, both of which continued to face pressure from shifting demand patterns and market conditions.

HSD uplift fell 19.1 percent year-on-year to 409,000 tons, compared to 505,000 tons a year earlier. Analysts linked the decline to lower buying by oil marketing companies and a possible rise in cross-border smuggling, as higher domestic diesel prices widened the price difference with neighboring countries.

Furnace oil uplift also remained under pressure, declining 4.2 percent year-on-year to 220,000 tons. However, demand for furnace oil has shown some recovery in recent months, supported by limited RLNG availability and higher refinery output, which encouraged its use in power generation and industrial activity.

In contrast, motor spirit, or petrol, remained relatively stable. MS uplift increased 4.3 percent year-on-year to 247,000 tons, reflecting steady transport demand despite the broader economic slowdown.

Among individual refineries, Attock Refinery Limited posted a 7 percent increase in total upliftment to 112,000 tons. National Refinery Limited, however, recorded a 5.6 percent decline to 135,000 tons. Pakistan Refinery Limited saw a modest 3.4 percent increase, while PARCO, the country’s largest refinery, reported a 12.7 percent year-on-year drop in total upliftment to 384,000 tons.

The latest data highlights changing fuel consumption trends in Pakistan’s petroleum sector. Petrol demand has remained comparatively steady, while diesel consumption has come under pressure from slower economic activity, improved efficiency, and smuggling concerns. Furnace oil, meanwhile, has staged a partial recovery after years of declining use due to the power sector’s shift toward RLNG and renewable energy.

During the first 11 months of FY2025-26, total refinery upliftment reached 9.97 million tons, slightly higher than the 9.92 million tons recorded in the same period last year, suggesting that overall fuel demand remained broadly stable despite fluctuations on a monthly basis.