Analysis – September

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Domestic sales of refined petroleum products in September 2009 totalled 8.1 million cubic metres, 608.6 thousand cubic metres (-7.0%) below the same month a year earlier. Motor gasoline and diesel fuel oil accounted for about 72% of sales. Motor gasoline sales remained strong, up 195.0 thousand cubic metres (+5.7%) from the same month a year earlier. However, the increase in gasoline sales was offset by a 386.0 thousand cubic metre (-14.9%) decline in diesel fuel oil sales.

Refineries produced 8.3 million cubic metres of product in September 2009, down 903.4 thousand cubic metres (-9.9%) below the same month a year earlier. All major petroleum products with the exception of the 'Other products' category composed of mainly unfinished products posted declines. The largest decreases were reported in motor gasoline down 153.2 thousand cubic (-4.6%), light fuel oil down 146.1 thousand cubic metres (-27.3%) and heavy fuel oil down 125.7 thousand cubic metres (-18.7%) from September 2008.

Crude oil receipts by Canadian refineries were down 450.0 thousand cubic metres to 7.5 million cubic metres, 5.6% below the same month a year earlier. Receipts of domestic crude oils totalled 4.3 million cubic metres, up 107.7 thousand cubic metres (+2.6%). Western Canadian crude oils accounted for about 86% of domestic receipts with the remainder originating from domestic offshore production.

Refineries took 557.6 thousand cubic metres (-14.7%) less imported crude oils in September 2009 than the same month a year earlier. Imports totalled 3.2 million cubic metres representing about 43% of total crude oil refinery receipts. OPEC crude oils accounted for about 65% of crude oil imports. Angola, Algeria, and Iraq were the largest OPEC suppliers. North Sea producers (Norway and the United Kingdom) supplied an additional 7.3% of total imports. Other non-OPEC suppliers included Russia, Mexico and the U.S.A.

Crude oil and refined petroleum product inventories held by refineries and major distributors closed September 2009 at 14.0 million cubic metres, slightly higher than the same month a year earlier. Product inventories totaled 10.7 million cubic metres, 187.6 thousand cubic metres (-1.7%) below September 2008. Crude oil inventories closed the month at 3.3 million cubic metres, 318.0 thousand cubic metres (+10.8%) above the same month a year earlier.