Cyprus fuel sales fall 1.4 per cent as pump prices climb

Cyprus’ petroleum product sales returned to annual decline in August, falling 1.4 per cent to 121,646 tonnes, according to figures released on Monday by the state statistical service (Cystat). The result reversed July’s 1.3 per cent annual increase, while sales also fell sharply by 15.3 per cent compared with July. The decline came during a month in which several of the island’s largest petroleum product categories recorded weaker sales than a year earlier. In August, asphalt sales recorded the sharpest fall, dropping 23.9 per cent to 1,484 tonnes, while heating gasoil declined 9.2 per cent to 3,021 tonnes and aviation kerosene provisions fell 6.1 per cent to 38,775 tonnes. Road diesel sales were also lower during the month, falling 1.6 per cent year on year to 26,771 tonnes, while agricultural gasoil declined 3.7 per cent to 1,577 tonnes. Lubricant sales fell 6 per cent to 236 tonnes, while aviation gasoline dropped by half to just one tonne. Several categories, however, moved in the opposite direction in August. Kerosene recorded the largest percentage increase, rising 175 per cent to 88 tonnes, although from a low base, while liquefied petroleum gas sales increased 8.6 per cent to 3,402 tonnes. Meanwhile, light fuel oil sales rose 4.9 per cent to 3,575 tonnes, while marine gasoil provisions increased 3.1 per cent to 12,171 tonnes. Unleaded motor gasoline also remained higher than a year earlier, with August sales rising 1.5 per cent to 29,792 tonnes. In volume terms, aviation kerosene remained the largest individual petroleum product category in August, at 38,775 tonnes. This was followed by motor gasoline at 29,792 tonnes and road diesel at 26,771 tonnes. The month-on-month comparison was weaker still. Compared with July, total petroleum product sales in August fell 15.3 per cent, with road diesel sales down 25.5 per cent and motor gasoline falling 12.7 per cent. Marine gasoil provisions, by contrast, increased 3.3 per cent from July, while aviation kerosene was almost unchanged, declining 0.4 per cent. At the same time, petroleum product stocks moved higher, increasing 21.2 per cent at the end of August compared with the end of July. This followed the 14.3 per cent monthly increase recorded at the end of July. The picture at filling stations was steadier in August, with sales increasing marginally by 0.2 per cent year on year to 54,704 tonnes, from 54,605 tonnes in August 2025. Unleaded motor gasoline remained the largest category, rising 1.8 per cent to 29,462 tonnes, while road diesel sales declined 2.1 per cent to 22,158 tonnes. Together, petrol and road diesel accounted for more than 94 per cent of filling-station sales in August. The largest percentage increase, however, came from a much smaller category, with kerosene sales rising 124 per cent year on year to 56 tonnes. Elsewhere at filling stations during August, heating gasoil sales increased 2.7 per cent to 1,759 tonnes. Agricultural gasoil fell 1.3 per cent to 1,124 tonnes, lubricant sales declined 2.5 per cent to 115 tonnes and light fuel oil dropped 11.8 per cent to 30 tonnes. Looking beyond the August figures, total petroleum product sales during January – August 2026 reached 999,206 tonnes, up 0.6 per cent from 993,548 tonnes in the corresponding eight-month period of 2025. Marine gasoil recorded the strongest growth among the larger categories during January – August, with provisions rising 18.5 per cent to 121,151 tonnes. Asphalt sales followed with an increase of 9.5 per cent to 27,027 tonnes, while kerosene rose 9.3 per cent to 6,716 tonnes and lubricant sales climbed 6.6 per cent to 2,385 tonnes. Growth was also recorded during the first eight months of 2026 in liquefied petroleum gas, where sales rose 3.8 per cent to 39,298 tonnes, while motor gasoline increased 2.4 per cent to 231,742 tonnes. Heavy fuel oil sales were 0.8 per cent higher at 9,357 tonnes. By comparison, growth in road diesel and heating gasoil was much more limited over January – August, with both categories increasing by just 0.2 per cent. Road diesel sales reached 235,532 tonnes, while heating gasoil stood at 53,976 tonnes. Several categories nevertheless remained below their year-earlier levels over the eight-month period. Light fuel oil recorded the steepest decline, falling 34.3 per cent to 35,173 tonnes, while aviation gasoline dropped 28.6 per cent to 10 tonnes. Aviation kerosene declined 2.3 per cent to 221,626 tonnes, while agricultural gasoil fell 1.5 per cent to 15,213 tonnes. Filling-station sales during January – August 2026 reached 465,224 tonnes, representing annual growth of 1.2 per cent. Within that total, unleaded motor gasoline sales rose 2.3 per cent to 229,387 tonnes, while kerosene increased 9.8 per cent to 4,953 tonnes. Over the same January – August period, heating gasoil sales at filling stations increased 2.5 per cent to 31,755 tonnes, agricultural gasoil rose 0.8 per cent to 10,579 tonnes and lubricant sales climbed 5.3 per cent to 975 tonnes. Road diesel, however, slipped 0.5 per cent to 187,257 tonnes, while light fuel oil fell 9.7 per cent to 318 tonnes. The weaker August sales came as pump prices moved sharply higher. Consumer Protection Service data put the average August price of unleaded 95 petrol at €1.589 per litre, up 10.4 cents from July, while diesel averaged €1.795 per litre, an increase of 20.1 cents. Prices continued to rise into September. Based on the September readings available by September 14, the service put the average petrol price at €1.641 per litre and diesel at €1.905, respectively 5.2 cents and 11 cents higher than their August averages. The rise was also reflected in the wider inflation picture. In its August assessment, the Consumer Protection Service said annual inflation increased to 3.5 per cent from 2.9 per cent in July, driven mainly by a 20.3 per cent increase in petroleum-product prices and a 6 per cent rise in electricity and water costs.