India, which has been Asia’s second-biggest energy consumer (after China) since 2008, overtook Japan as the world’s third-largest oil-consuming country last year, as a result of an 8.1% year-on-year increase in its daily consumption
to 4.159 million barrels, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

India accounted for 4.5% of daily global oil demand in 2015, marginally higher than Japan’s 4.4%, which was equivalent to 4.15 million barrels. China registered a 6.3% growth last year to 11.968 million barrels per day, accounting for 12.9% of global demand despite a slowing economy.

The review said: “Chinese consumption slowed further, but it still recorded the world’s largest increment in primary energy consumption for the 15th consecutive year. China once again accounted for the largest increment to oil demand, while India surpassed Japan as the world’s third-largest oil consumer.”