Refinery production levels decreased 0.5% to 10,703.0 thousand cubic metres compared to the same month a year earlier. The largest decreases were seen in motor gasoline (-192.1 thousand cubic metres or -4.8%), aviation turbo fuel (kerosene type) (-74.2 thousand cubic metres or -14.8%) and in asphalt (-43.0 cubic metres or -12.2%). Year-to-date production decreased 2.0% over the same period a year earlier.

The total volume of crude oil and equivalents received by refineries amounted to 9,198.8 thousand cubic metres, a decrease of 4.1% when compared to March 2004. This decrease was due to lower receipts of imported crude (-8.8%) but was offset by an increase in domestic crude receipts (+0.4%).  Year-to-date refinery receipts totalled 27,746.6 thousand cubic metres, down 2.0% from the same period a year earlier.

In March, imports of crude and equivalents from Norway accounted for 35% of total imports, followed by United Kingdom at 19% and Algeria at 16%.  Year-to-date imports are up 1.5%.

Sales of refined petroleum products totalled 8,641.7 thousand cubic metres, down 0.2% from March 2004. The decrease was largely due to lower demand for aviation turbo - kerosene type (-79.3 thousand cubic metres or -13.6%), heavy fuel oil (-76.4 thousand cubic metres or -9.4%) and in asphalt (-42.4 thousand cubic metres or -23.3%). Year to date sales for all refined products was up 0.8% from the same period in 2004.

Chart 1
Domestic sales of refined petroleum products

Chart 2
Domestic sales of refined petroleum products - by product - March 2005

Chart 3
Domestic sales of refined petroleum products - by region - March 2005

Chart 4
Refinery supply of crude oils - domestic and import receipts - March 2005

Chart 5
Refinery supply of crude oils - by type - March 2005