Daily Times

Sales’ volumes of oil marketing companies (OMC) continued on a growth trajectory with an increase of 14 percent YoY for May’21 due to a strong rebound post COVID-19 related economic slowdown at 1.7 million tons, while sequentially, volumes grew by 1 percent MoM despite extended Eid holidays during May’21.

Shahrukh Saleem, a senior analyst at AKD Securities, said that OMC volumes were, further, expected to tread the same path with economic activity picking up pace.

Among the three major fuels, furnace oil posted the highest increase of 16 percent YoY due to an increase in power demand across the country as temperatures increase. Retail fuels increased by 13/3 percent YoY where MS led the pack with an increase of 15/9 percent YoY while HSD posted an increase of 11 percent YoY, declining sequentially by 3 percent MoM as restrictions were placed on activity across the country in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases, he reported.

Low differential with MS continues to bolster HOBC volumes, with sales for May’21 increasing by 265/26 percent YoY/MoM. Restrictions on air travel had severely constrained JP off take, however with low base setting in; fuel witnessed an increase of 173 percent YoY.

Saleem said total OMC sales for the current FY increased by 19 percent YoY where FO witnessed the highest increase of 46 percent YoY followed by 13/19 percent YoY increase in MS and HSD.

PSO way ahead of peers

PSO continued to improve market share where after recent increase in retail fuel volumes of 15 percent YoY against 13 percent of the industry, retail fuel market share has increased to 46 percent in May’21 against 45 percent in May’20.

On the other hand, APL continues to be among the laggards with company’s retail volumes decreasing by 3 percent against an increase of 13 percent for the industry, taking down company’s market to 7 percent in retail fuels for May’21 against 8 percent for May’20.

Meanwhile, HASCOL continues to face the brunt of financial woes as even with a low base setting in, retail fuel volumes witnessed a massive decline of 48 percent YoY for May’21. With APL, SHEL and HASCOL losing market share, share of listed players in the retail fuels space has decreased to 34 percent in May’21 against 36 percent in Apr’21.

Outlook

Shahrukh Saleem commented that the upcoming budget would provide incentives to the agriculture sector along with a focus on infrastructure spending would provide a significant uplift in volumes in the medium term. Additionally, the government’s commitment to curb influx of grey products is providing an additional uplift to volumes of high speed diesel (HSD) in particular.

“We expect MS/HSD to post a growth of 10/9 percent YoY for FY22. PSO is our top pick where medium term developments include clearance of circular debt and shift in profile of cash flows due to increased share of retail fuels while focus on improving storage infrastructure will result in company sustaining the recently gained market share,” said the senior analyst.

Overall, sales of oil firms continued on a strong footing where seasonal uptick in demand for power generation over the period drove growth at a staggering 46 percent YoY.