Sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels, March 2002, preliminary figures

The reasons for the decline may partly be due to a mild March. In addition, the number of delivery days was less in March this year than in March last year. During the past 12 months, however, the deliveries increased.

Heating products

In March the deliveries of light heating oil and heating and lighting kerosene decreased by 21.0 and 25.3 per cent respectively, whereas sale increased during the 12- month period. Also heavy fuel oil showed a fall in deliveries in March and a rise in the past 12-month period.

Motor gasoline

The deliveries of both auto diesel and motor gasoline declined in March and rose during the past 12-month period. The deliveries of motor gasoline came to 180 million litres in March, of which 155 million litres were 95-octane motor gasoline and 24 million litres were 98-octane motor gasoline. Out of the 24 million 98-octane gasoline, 7 million were "lead-substituted" motor gasoline. This is motor gasoline designed for cars that need the protection they traditionally got from lead. This sale has declined considerably during the past months, and for the past 12 months the decrease was 28.4 per cent.

There were 19 delivery days in March 2002 against 22 in March 2001.

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