Sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels, November 2001, preliminary figures

High oil prices, low electricity prices and mild temperature in the autumn of 2000 contributed to low sale figures for heating oil and kerosene and fuel oil. In contrast, for autumn 2001 sale figures are almost back to the same level as for 1999; possibly due to the fact that the oil prices declined and the electricity prices rose.

However, the deliveries of heating oil and kerosene and fuel oil for the past 12 months are still low. Deliveries of heavy fuel oil started to increase this spring. For light heating oil and heating and lighting kerosene the sales vary from month to month, the temperature is an important contributor to the change in deliveries.

Deliveries of heating oil and kerosene and fuel oil from 1960 to 2000

The deliveries of heating oil and kerosene and fuel oil increased until the oil crises in 1973, after 1973 the deliveries have decreased - interrupted by a few boom periods. Seen in the light of the increase of total energy consumption, the decrease of the part of total energy consumption coming from heating oil kerosene and fuel oil is significant. For example, the total energy consumption increased by about 60 per cent from 1970 to 2000 whereas deliveries of heating oil and kerosene and fuel oil decreased by about 73 per cent. In other words, the part of total energy consumption coming from these heating products decreased from 36 to 6 per cent from 1970 to 2000.

Total deliveries

Total deliveries of petroleum products came to 800 million litres in November, 9.0 per cent more than in November last year. During the past 12 months, the deliveries came to 9 330 million litres, which are the same as for the previous 12-month period.

There were 23 delivery days in October 2001 against 22 in October 2000.

Tables:

• Table 1 Deliveries of petroleum products. Million litres. Preliminary figures
• Table 2 Deliveries of petroleum products, by group of purchasers. Million litres. Preliminary figures
• Table 3 Deliveries of petroleum products, by county. Million litres. Preliminary figures