OMV’s Austrian fuel demand picks up as lockdown eases

Austrian energy group OMV has seen the first signs of increase in road fuel demand in the country over the past week, as Austria started lifting its Covid-19 lockdown, but expects a gradual recovery to usual consumption levels later this year,  CEO Rainer Seele has said in a S&P Global interview.

Austria was the first European country to start relaxing its Covid-19 measures and since the partial re-openings, road fuel sales have recovered somewhat, with gasoline currently being 40% lower and diesel down at 20% of year-earlier levels, according to Seele. Jet fuel sales remain 95% lower.

Austria is expecting a further lifting of the quarantine restrictions on 4 May.