Refinery production levels decreased 5.6% compared to the same month a year earlier. The largest decreases were seen in motor gasoline (-350.0 thousand cubic metres or -8.8%), petrochemical feedstock (-201.7 thousand cubic metres or -43.8%) and in heavy fuel oil (-114.9 thousand cubic metres or -13.7%). Year-to-date production decreased 2.6% over the same period a year earlier.

The total volume of crude oil and equivalents received by refineries amounted to 8,861.7 thousand cubic metres, a decrease of 2.9% when compared to December 2004. This decrease was due to lower receipts of imported crude (-8.6%) but was offset by an increase in domestic crude receipts (+2.9%). Year-to-date refinery receipts totalled 107 431.0 thousand cubic metres, down 3.1% from the same period a year earlier.

December, imports of crude and equivalents from Norway accounted for 34% of total imports, followed by Algeria 14% and Venezuela at 11%. Year-to-date imports are down 1.0%.

Sales of refined petroleum products totalled 8,426.6 thousand cubic metres, down 5.1% from December 2004. This decrease was largely due to lower demand for petrochemical feedstock (-173. 5 thousand cubic metres or -40.7%), heavy fuel oil (-130.8 thousand cubic metres or -14.3%) and in motor gasoline (-79.7 thousand cubic metres or -2.3%). Year to date sales for all refined products was down 1.0% from the same period in 2004.