Surge in Covid-19 cases means 'quick recovery this year is not on the table anymore'

Driving in major US cities with rising infection rates dropped in July, including in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami, according to Dutch location technology company TomTom. Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

Surges in coronavirus infections are slowing a recovery in fuel use from the doldrums of lockdowns in the US and other countries, raising concern it could be years before consumption rebounds from the impact of the pandemic.

Global fuel demand fell by around a quarter at the peak of the lockdowns, when over 4 billion people worldwide were asked to stay at home.