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

The deliveries of heating products rose from 2000 to 2001. The inland deliveries of heavy fuel oil were 46.4 per cent higher than in 2000. In addition, the deliveries of light heating oil and heating and lighting kerosene increased by about 11 per cent. Still, the deliveries of heating products remain low compared with previous years. For example, deliveries of light heating oil are 17.3 per cent lower in 2001 than in 1999.

The deliveries of auto diesel rose by 8.2 per cent to the record level 2 014 million litres. The dutiable auto diesel increased the most - by 9.2 per cent. For motor gasoline the deliveries totalled 2 271 million litres, a 3.7 per cent increase from 2000. Motor gasoline has showed a slight fall in deliveries during the past two years, but is now back at the same level as in 1998.

Bunkering

On the other hand, the deliveries of heavy fuel oil to ship in ocean transport (bunkering) declined compared with 2000, by 10.7 per cent. Marine gas oil and diesel are also used for bunkering, this sale increased by 2.0 per cent from 2000 to 2001. The bunkering deliveries were about 15 per cent lower in 2001 than in the top year for bunkering sales 1997. The deliveries of marine gas oil and diesel remain stable whereas the deliveries of heavy fuel oil fell by more than 30 per cent from 1997 to 2001.

Increased deliveries in December

The deliveries of motor gasoline and auto diesel were above 10 per cent higher in December this year compared with December last year. The increase was due to low deliveries in December 2000. This was caused by the expected reduced dues from 1 January 2001.

The deliveries of heating products showed a considerable increase in sales in December as well, both light heating oil and heating and lighting kerosene rose by about 30 per cent, caused by low sales in December 2000. In spite of the strong increase in December, the deliveries remain low compared with previous years.

There were 18 delivery days in December 2001 against 19 in December 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