Kerosene consumption to lowest level in two decades

12/05/2020 10:40

In March 2020, sales of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and fuel oil as well as the consumption of kerosene declined by 13 percent relative to January 2020. The year-on-year decline amounted to 12 percent. This is evident from new figures on the oil market which have been released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The decline in petrol sales over March was the sharpest since January, dropping by over 20 percent; year-on-year, the same percentage decline was recorded. In comparison, diesel sales dropped more mildly, namely by 2 percent since January. Year-on-year, the diesel sales declined by approximately 10 percent. In the Netherlands, diesel is mainly used as fuel for corporate lease and freight vehicles, but also in construction and the agricultural sector.

Record decline in kerosene consumption

Less aviation kerosene was bunkered (for international air traffic) last year already due to the halted growth of Schiphol Airport. Compared to January 2020, there was a 23-percent decline in the consumption of kerosene in March. The total volume of kerosene bunkered ended at 213 million kg in March, the lowest level in two decades.

Consumption of petrol, car diesel and kerosene
Jaar	Maand	Petrol (million kg)	Car diesel (million kg)	Kerosene (million kg)
2018	Jan	344	509	295
2018	Feb	325	508	277
2018	Mar	365	590	310
2018	Apr	346	545	323
2018	May	366	592	351
2018	June	348	568	346
2018	July	351	577	371
2018	Aug	337	528	369
2018	Sep	333	552	350
2018	Oct	370	567	351
2018	Nov	376	587	299
2018	Dec	376	521	301
2019	Jan	364	532	302
2019	Feb	334	516	270
2019	Mar	364	548	307
2019	Apr	366	584	327
2019	May	378	587	348
2019	June	347	493	339
2019	July	365	578	357
2019	Aug	339	487	359
2019	Sep	347	545	344
2019	Oct	381	583	338
2019	Nov	370	551	285
2019	Dec	374	505	291
2020	Jan	362	495	278
2020	Feb	339	484	258
2020	Mar	287	486	213

Consumption of petrol, car diesel and kerosene
Jaar	Maand	Petrol (million kg)	Car diesel (million kg)	Kerosene (million kg)
2018	Jan	344	509	295
2018	Feb	325	508	277
2018	Mar	365	590	310
2018	Apr	346	545	323
2018	May	366	592	351
2018	June	348	568	346
2018	July	351	577	371
2018	Aug	337	528	369
2018	Sep	333	552	350
2018	Oct	370	567	351
2018	Nov	376	587	299
2018	Dec	376	521	301
2019	Jan	364	532	302
2019	Feb	334	516	270
2019	Mar	364	548	307
2019	Apr	366	584	327
2019	May	378	587	348
2019	June	347	493	339
2019	July	365	578	357
2019	Aug	339	487	359
2019	Sep	347	545	344
2019	Oct	381	583	338
2019	Nov	370	551	285
2019	Dec	374	505	291
2020	Jan	362	495	278
2020	Feb	339	484	258
2020	Mar	287	486	213

Refineries make adjustments in output

The oil refineries have adjusted to the drop in demand by scaling back the production of oil products by 12 percent. Stocks of unsold petroleum products have increased. The export of petroleum products did increase in March, by 12 percent relative to January.

Petrol production down by over 13 percent

Petrol sales has declined by over 20 percent relative to March 2019, to a total of 287 million kg. Outside of the Netherlands, demand for petrol has dropped as well. For example, exports have declined by 7 percent to 2,300 million kg while production fell by over 13 percent to 1,800 million kg.
The Netherlands has the world’s largest storage space for petrol and is a major player in the international petrol market. Stocks of petrol have declined sharply relative to the previous year. Lower demand results in lower output, as stocks are being sold first.