Thai consumption to pick up in late 2009

Domestic petrol consumption is likely to pick up in the fourth quarter after declining since late last year. According to Pissawan Achanapornkul, chairwoman of Shell Companies in Thailand the industrial sector accounts for 40% of Thailand’s oil consumption and the downturn in the sector was responsible for lower oil consumption. “Despite sales volume at petrol stations remaining healthy during the price drop, the decrease of between 20% and 30% in industrial production was too much to offset,” she said. Industrial capacity utilization should rebound on rising export orders in the third quarter, but this mayonly be significant in the fourth quarter, she said. (July 2, 2009)