Maharashtra has recorded around 20 per cent surge in fuel sales in May amid panic buying triggered by fears of a possible disruption in fuel supplies due to the West Asia crisis.
An official statement issued by the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department on Friday, May 22, 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 added.
The state also witnessed a massive single-day surge in fuel sales on May 19, with diesel sales skyrocketing by 42 per cent and petrol by 21 per cent over average daily figures across several districts amid concerns over fuel supplies following disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis.
In response to this, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal assured that the state faces no petrol or diesel shortage, appealing to the public to stop panic-buying and dismissing all rumours about a looming shortage.
Talking to reporters, Bhujbal said both the Centre and the state government were fully capable of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fuel, and there was no need for citizens to hoard. He further mentioned that adequate fuel stocks were available across the state.
Bhujbal appealed to citizens to remain calm and avoid purchasing fuel beyond their immediate requirements, stating that unnecessary hoarding could create avoidable pressure on the supply system.
He urged the public to cooperate with the administration and continue purchasing fuel only as per regular needs to ensure smooth distribution across the state.
"Despite this temporary spike in demand, supplies remained uninterrupted, and all demand was fully met," the department said in a statement.
Bhujbal presented district-wise fuel sales figures and appealed to people to purchase petrol and diesel only as per requirement and cooperate with the administration.
District-wise data:
The department said districts such as Akola, Beed, Buldhana, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Latur, Dharashiv and Parbhani witnessed higher-than-normal fuel sales during the period.
Among districts, Washim recorded the highest rise in petrol sales at 42 per cent, followed by Jalgaon at 40 per cent. Akola registered the sharpest increase in diesel sales at 111 per cent, and Washim reported a 109 per cent jump.
Jalgaon witnessed a 72 per cent rise in diesel sales, followed by Beed at 63 per cent and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 49 per cent.
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