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

Deliveries of heating and lighting kerosene also showed a substantial increase in December. For buyers with the possibility to use oil or kerosene, the high electricity prices have contributed to more use of heating kerosene and heating oil. Low temperatures in December have also been of importance for the sales figures.

Total deliveries went up in December

Deliveries of petroleum products totalled 839 million litres in December, a 10.5 increase compared with December in 2001. Besides the increase in deliveries of heating products, deliveries of auto diesel also showed a relatively high increase in December, 6.9 per cent.

Total deliveries down in 2002

Many of the petroleum products had less deliveries in 2002 compared with 2001.Total deliveries in 2002 came to 9 173 million litres, 2.0 per cent less than in 2001. Deliveries of heavy fuel oil decreased the most, especially deliveries of heavy fuel oil with contents of sulphur higher than 1 per cent. Among the remaining products, motor gasoline, jet fuel and marine gas oil showed a decline in deliveries, whereas auto diesel, LPG, light heating oils and heating and lighting kerosene had a modest increase.

There were 20 delivery days in December 2002, and 19 in the corresponding month of 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