BENGALURU: India’s fuel consumption fell in August, government data showed on Thursday, as monsoon rains and shipping constraints slowed industrial and commercial activity.

Demand in the world’s third biggest oil consumer was still seen rebounding further from a pandemic-related slump in the fourth quarter, however.

Fuel consumption, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 16.00 million tonnes last month, down 4.9% from July but 10.9% higher than a year before, data on the Petroleum Planning. Fuel demand rose in June and July after a slump in May as pandemic restrictions were unwound in most states.