Refinery production levels decreased 3.0% compared to the same month a year earlier. The largest decreases were seen in petrochemical feedstock (-150. 7 thousand cubic metres or -32.8%), heavy fuel oil (-100. 6 thousand cubic metres or -12.2%) and in light fuel oil (-83.5 thousand cubic metres or -8.2%).

The total volume of crude oil and equivalents received by refineries amounted to 8 715.4 thousand cubic metres, a decrease of 6.7% when compared to January 2005. This decrease was due to lower receipts of imported crude (-20.3%) but was offset by an increased in domestic crude receipts (+6.7%).

January, imports of crude and equivalents from Algeria accounted for 26% of total imports, followed by United Kingdom at 15% and Norway at 12%.

Sales of refined petroleum products totalled 7,811.4 thousand cubic metres, down 9.6% from January 2005. This decrease was largely due to lower demand for heavy fuel oil (-277.0 thousand cubic metres or -33.6%), light fuel oil (-174.4 thousand cubic metres or -23.5%) and in motor gasoline (-161.4 thousand cubic metres or -4.9%).