Iran's Fuel Distributor Reports More Vehicle Gas Use and Lower Gasoline Import Need

The newspaper Iran, as relayed by Khabaronline on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, quoted Emad Rafiei, head of consumption affairs at the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, as saying daily compressed natural gas use reached about 16.7 million cubic metres in Mehr, up from 14.7 million in Mordad. He described switching to alternative fuel and managing demand as ways to reduce the need for gasoline imports. Rafiei also said petrochemical output of octane-boosting materials has recovered to its previous level after damage to part of South Pars gas infrastructure caused a decline. The reported rise in vehicle gas use does not itself measure gasoline import volumes; maintaining lower import needs depends on refinery output keeping up with demand.