India state retailers' gasoil, gasoline sales flat in June versus May

NEW DELHI, July 1 (Reuters) - Indian state fuel retailers gasoil and gasoline sales in June were little changed from the previous month, preliminary data showed, as people avoided travel as a heat wave in May gave way to monsoon rains.

Daily sales of gasoil rose marginally by 0.4% to 7.12 million metric tonnes in June compared with May, the data showed.

Fuel demand in India, the worlds third biggest oil importer and consumer, typically falls during the four-month monsoon season beginning in June as parts of the country are hit by heavy floods.

Monsoon rains also reduce demand from the agriculture sector as less irrigation-related requirements decrease.

Gasoil accounts for about two-fifths of Indias overall refined fuel consumption and is directly linked to industrial activity in Asias third-largest economy.

State fuel retailers daily gasoline sales remained flat at nearly 2.90 million tonnes, the data showed.

State-run retailers and refiners - Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL.NS) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL.NS) - own about 90% of Indias retail fuel outlets.