Refining and Marketing Annual Review October 2009

CRISIL Ltd.
October 30, 2009
196 Pages - SKU: CRSL2504989
License type:
The global economic meltdown has led to a severe suppression in petroleum product demand, with global demand registering a negative growth rate for the first time since 1993. While the economic recovery is expected to be gradual, its pace will differ among countries. This is expected to lead to divergent trends in product demand across different regions. Light distillate demand is set to plummet; led by the drop in US gasoline consumption on the back of an economic slump, cuts in discretionary spends like driving and improving fuel efficiency due to stringent emission norms. Demand for middle distillates, though, is expected to grow rapidly, led by consumption in Asia and the Middle East. Therefore, the contribution from middle distillates to gross refining margins (GRMs) is expected to be higher, and that from light distillates to be lower. Also, as refinery yields tilt in favour of middle distillates, the rising demand for heavy distillates will lead to a tightening in the fuel oil (FO) market.