In September, refined petroleum product production totalled 10,297.9 thousand cubic metres, 6.3% higher than the same month a year earlier. In volumetric terms, this increase was led by a near doubling of petrochemical feedstock production (343.9 thousand cubic metres). A 318.1 thousand cubic metre or 14.8% increase in diesel fuel oil production was offset somewhat by a 151.1 thousand cubic metre or 4.1% decrease in motor gasoline production. January to September production was up 6.3% from the same nine-month period a year earlier.

Crude oil and equivalent receipts by refineries totalled 8,929.7 thousand cubic metres in September, 3.5% higher than the same month a year earlier. Domestic crude oil receipts totalled 4,716.6 thousand cubic metres, up a 491.8 thousand cubic metre or 11.6% from a year earlier. Imports slipped to 4,213.1 thousand cubic metres, down 186.3 thousand cubic metres or 4.2% from the year before. Year-to-date total receipts were 3.3% higher than the same month in 2005.

September crude oil imports represented about 50% of total refinery receipts. OPEC countries comprised 48% of the imports. Algeria, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia were the largest OPEC suppliers. North Sea countries (Norway and the United Kingdom) supplied an additional 33%. Mexico and the United States contributed 5.3% and 3.4% respectively.

Domestic sales of refined petroleum products totalled 8,552.4 thousand cubic metres, 4.9% higher than September 2005. Petrochemical feedstock sales more than doubled, up 285.1 thousand cubic metres or 5.7% from a year earlier. Motor gasoline, petroleum coke, kerosene, light fuel oil also posted increases. January to September sales for all refined products fell 1.6 % below the same period in 2005.

Refined petroleum product inventories for September totalled 10,043.3 thousand cubic metres, up 6.4% from the same month a year earlier.