Consumption of road transport fuels fell fractionally during 2012, latest statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have shown.
A 5.4% fall in petrol sales over the year being almost entirely offset by a 2.36% rise in diesel sales, according to DECC.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, petrol sales fell by 4.9% compared to Q4 2011 to reach 4.47 billion litres, while diesel sales rose by 3.7% at 8.19 billion litres.
That left full year sales figures at 18.02 billion litres for petrol (2011: 18.92 billion litres) and 31.87 billion litres for diesel (2011: 31.14 billion litres).
Of diesel sales, bulk deliveries during 2012 accounted for 9.04 billion litres, up 1.76% on 2011 and just over 28% of the total diesel supplied.
