Analysis – November

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Domestic sales of refined petroleum products in November 2009 totalled 7.9 million cubic metres, 446.0 thousand cubic metres (-5.3%) below November 2008. Motor gasoline and diesel fuel oil accounted for 71% of total product sales. While motor gasoline remained unchanged, diesel fuel oil sales declined by 106.0 thousand cubic metres (-4.6%) from the same month a year earlier.

Refineries produced 9.9 million cubic metres of product in November 2009, up 470.6 thousand cubic metres (+5.0%) above the same month a year earlier. The largest increases in production were reported in motor gasoline, up 215.4 thousand (+6.5%); the "other products" category, up 215.1 thousand metres (+46.9%); and light fuel oil, up 212.8 thousand cubic metres (+38.6%). The largest decrease was reported in heavy fuel oil down 158.3 thousand cubic metres (-23.7%).

Crude oil receipts by domestic refineries totalled 8.1 million cubic metres, down 229.6 thousand cubic metres (-2.8%) from the same month a year earlier. Receipts of domestic crude oils totalled 4.8 million cubic metres, up 454.5 thousand cubic metres (+10.4%). Western Canadian crude oils accounted for about 85% of domestic receipts with the remainder originating from domestic offshore production.

The increase in receipts of domestic crude oils in November 2009 was offset by a 684.1 thousand cubic metres (-17.4%) decrease in imported crude oils compared to a year earlier. Imports totalled 3.3 million cubic metres and represented about 40% of total crude oil receipts by domestic refiners.

OPEC crude oils accounted for about 42% of crude oil imports in November 2009. Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Angola were the largest OPEC suppliers. North Sea producers (Norway and the United Kingdom) supplied an additional 29.6% of total imports.

Crude oil and refined petroleum product inventories held by refineries and major distributors closed November 2009 at 14.0 million cubic metres, 478.4 thousand cubic metres (-3.3%) less than the same month a year earlier. Product inventories totaled 10.9 million cubic metres, 108.0 thousand cubic metres (-1.0%) below November 2008.

Motor gasoline inventories were up 317.8 thousand cubic metres (+16.1%) compared to November 2008. Inventories of light fuel oil used mainly for heating purposes were up 24.5 thousand cubic metres (+4.5%) compared to a year earlier.

Crude oil inventories in November 2009 closed the month at 3.1 million cubic metres, 351.9 thousand cubic metres (-10.2%) below the same month a year earlier.