Sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels, May 2003, preliminary figures

For the past 12 months, deliveries of heavy fuel oil decreased by 12.0 per cent.

Sale to ships in ocean transport decreased

Deliveries of heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil to ships in ocean transport were more than 30 per cent lower in May this year than in May of last year. For the past 12 months, the decrease in deliveries was about 20 per cent compared with the previous 12-month period. Deliveries of heavy fuel oil have showed a decrease since 1997. There has been a turn to use of heavy fuel oil with a lower sulphur content - especially for the past 3 years. The deliveries of marine gas oil have been more stable since 1997.

Continued increased deliveries of light heating oil

The deliveries of light heating oil came to 61 million litres in May this year, whereas it amounted to 36 million litres in May last year. The increase for the past 12-month period was 48.7 per cent. There has now been an increase in deliveries of light heating oil for 8 months in a row. This may be due to relatively high prices on electricity the last year.

Total deliveries

The total deliveries of petroleum products in May came to 759 million litres, the same as in May 2002. Motor gasoline, auto diesel and marine gas oil, which represented about 70 percent of total deliveries showed decline in deliveries in May. For the past 12 months the deliveries totalled 9,432 million litres, an increase of 2.9 per cent.

There were 20 delivery days in May 2003 against 19 in May 2002.

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