The refinery sector recorded a 9.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in upliftment in October 2026, supported by higher furnace oil (FO) and high-speed diesel (HSD) sales, improved refinery utilisation and rising demand from the power sector. According to industry data released on Monday, refinery upliftment rose to 4.311 million tonnes during the first four months of FY27, up 28.9 per cent from the corresponding period last year.

The increase in refinery activity was driven by higher domestic crude oil production and imports, which improved refinery utilisation, boosted the availability of locally produced petroleum products and increased supplies to oil marketing companies (OMCs). However, HSD sales by OMCs declined 7.3 per cent YoY in October, reflecting limited diesel imports and higher prices.

Among individual refineries, Cnergyico recorded the strongest growth, with total sales surging 94 per cent to 233,000 tonnes in October. Its HSD sales increased 198.3 per cent to 123,000 tonnes, while motor spirit (MS) sales rose 101.6 per cent to 29,000 tonnes.

Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL) recorded a 2.5 per cent decline in total sales, mainly due to a 21.6 per cent fall in FO sales. Its HSD sales also declined 1.1 per cent, while MS sales increased 4.8 per cent.

The refinery's market share fell to 12.8 per cent, compared with its historical average of 13.9 per cent. Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) posted a 5.4 per cent increase in sales to 146,000 tonnes, supported by an 80.6 per cent surge in FO sales to 50,000 tonnes.

However, its MS and HSD sales declined 18 per cent and 13.4 per cent to 24,000 tonnes and 68,000 tonnes, respectively. National Refinery Limited (NRL) recorded a 12.8 per cent increase in total sales to 146,000 tonnes.

Its FO sales surged 57.2 per cent to 46,000 tonnes, while MS sales declined 17.3 per cent to 15,000 tonnes and HSD sales fell to 79,000 tonnes. On the production side, the industry's total refinery output increased 9.2 per cent YoY to 1.009 million tonnes in October.

FO production surged 52 per cent to 277,000 tonnes, while MS production declined 9.5 per cent to 207,000 tonnes and HSD production fell 1.5 per cent to 474,000 tonnes. During July-October FY27, overall refinery production rose 19.8 per cent YoY to 4.1 million tonnes.

The industry's average capacity utilisation stood at 59 per cent in October.