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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

03 June 2021

Fuel Excise Clearances April 2021

First increase in road fuel volumes since start of pandemic
  • In April 2021, unleaded petrol clearances were 157% higher than in April 2020
  • Demand for petrol has been increasing since the start of 2021 as clearances for this fuel type were 51% lower in January, 45% lower in February and 18% lower in March than the corresponding months of 2020
  • In April 2021, autodiesel clearances were 96% higher than in April 2020
  • Demand for autodiesel has been increasing since the start of 2021 as clearances for this fuel type were 34% lower in January, 28% lower in February and 7% lower in March than the corresponding months of 2020
  • All similar year on year comparisons between March 2019 and March 2021 showed decreases in the volume of clearances of unleaded petrol and autodiesel

Go to release: Fuel Excise Clearances April 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (03 June 2021) published Fuel Excise Clearances for April 2021. The report shows the monthly trends for the main transport and heating fuels since January 2000.

Clearances of unleaded petrol in April 2021 were 157% higher than the April 2020 figure. This is the first such increase since the pandemic started in March 2020. There was also a substantial increase of 96% in clearances of autodiesel in April 2021 compared with April 2020.

Statistician in the Environment and Climate Division, Paul McElvaney, commented: “While the April 2021 figures for unleaded petrol and autodiesel were both higher than March 2021, they were both lower than the April 2019 figures, so traffic levels are still returning to the pre-pandemic levels of activity. The monthly national volumes of road fuel clearances represent an overall single-figure indicator of road transport activity throughout the whole of Ireland.”

Petrol is mainly used by households, particularly those located in urban areas. Autodiesel is used by commercial vehicles and households driving longer distances.

For further information contact:

Paul McElvaney (+353) 1 498 4201 or Gerry Brady (+353) 1 498 4201

or email environment@cso.ie

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