France Oil Refining Market Overview, 2030

France’s oil refining industry is centered around several strategic refinery hubs that play a critical role in the country’s energy infrastructure. Refining capacity in France is moderate compared to other major European economies, with some facilities operating below full utilization due to market saturation and changing demand. France’s refining sector has evolved over the years, facing consolidation and modernization as part of wider European trends. The country relies on a balance of domestic refining and imports to meet its fuel needs, with refined products traded actively across European borders. Regulatory oversight is stringent, governed primarily by the European Union’s emissions framework, which enforces strict limits on sulfur content, particulate emissions, and greenhouse gases from refineries. The French refineries are integrated with petrochemical complexes, supporting a broader energy value chain that includes the production of plastics, chemicals, and specialty products. In addition to TotalEnergies, other international oil companies and national oil firms participate in the regional refining market, though TotalEnergies remains the largest operator. France’s refining industry also faces increasing pressure from the global energy transition, with growing emphasis on decarbonization, renewable fuels, and stricter environmental standards. Recent years have seen refinery closures and conversions, such as the transformation of La Mède from a traditional oil refinery to a biorefinery focusing on renewable diesel, reflecting the country’s shift towards cleaner energy.

According to the research report ""France Oil Refining Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the France Oil Refining market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.69% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. TotalEnergies is the dominant player in the French refining landscape, operating major facilities such as the Gonfreville refinery in Normandy, the Donges refinery near Nantes, and the Feyzin refinery close to Lyon. These refineries serve both domestic demand and export markets across Western Europe. Jet fuel demand is rising steadily, particularly driven by major Paris airports such as Charles de Gaulle and Orly, which serve as important international aviation hubs. Conversely, diesel demand is declining, influenced by a shrinking diesel car fleet as France accelerates its clean mobility policies and transitions to electric vehicles and alternative fuels. This shift is further supported by stringent government measures aimed at reducing transportation emissions and promoting sustainable energy use. Refinery closures and conversions, including La Mède’s shift to biorefinery operations, demonstrate the sector’s adaptation to environmental mandates and the decreasing profitability of traditional refining. Regulatory influences such as the IMO 2020 sulfur cap, Euro VI vehicle emission norms, and EU fuel quality mandates continue to push refiners toward cleaner product outputs and operational upgrades. Refining margins and crack spreads remain under pressure due to overcapacity and high operational costs but offer opportunities for refineries investing in hybrid operations, digital upgrades, and improved energy efficiency. Challenges persist in managing feedstock price volatility and ensuring compliance with evolving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, all while navigating the transition toward a low-carbon economy.

In France, diesel demand has been contracting steadily due to a combination of stricter emission regulations, the ongoing diesel vehicle phase-out roadmap, and growing electrification of the transport sector. Despite this decline, gasoline consumption remains more stable, particularly in urban areas where smaller gasoline-powered passenger cars and hybrid vehicles continue to dominate. Jet fuel demand is rebounding strongly, driven by the resurgence of international air travel post-COVID, especially through major airports like Charles de Gaulle and Orly, which serve as key European aviation hubs. The recovery in passenger and cargo flights has renewed jet fuel consumption to pre-pandemic levels, with additional emphasis on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) blending targets. Bitumen and lubricants maintain stable demand, largely fueled by public infrastructure and road construction projects across metropolitan and regional France. Asphalt production supports extensive road maintenance and expansion programs, which are part of government investments to modernize transport infrastructure. LPG continues to be widely used for cooking and residential heating, especially in rural and peri-urban areas lacking natural gas pipeline access. The LPG market remains stable, with gradual efforts to improve fuel quality and reduce emissions. Refiners in France have also increased production of low-sulfur fuels to comply with European environmental standards, while the ongoing biofuel mandates drive integration of renewable components into gasoline and diesel pools. Recent developments include enhanced refinery processing to boost renewable diesel and HVO output, aligned with France’s climate goals under the European Green Deal.

Road transportation remains the largest consumer of refined petroleum products in France, accounting for the majority of gasoline and diesel demand. Passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and freight transport dominate fuel consumption in this segment, although diesel volumes are declining due to cleaner mobility policies. Aviation fuels have experienced strong recovery as international and domestic air travel rebounded after the pandemic slump, with Charles de Gaulle airport being one of Europe’s busiest. The French government and airlines are investing in sustainable aviation fuel programs to reduce carbon emissions in this sector. Marine bunker fuels are consumed mainly in major port cities such as Marseille and Le Havre, serving coastal and Mediterranean shipping lanes. While marine fuel demand remains moderate, regulations under IMO 2020 have driven a shift towards very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) and dual-fuel LNG-powered vessels. The petrochemical industry, concentrated primarily in the southern regions near Fos-sur-Mer and Lavéra, relies heavily on refinery outputs such as naphtha as feedstock for chemical production. Residential and commercial fuel consumption shows a decline in traditional heating oil use, replaced increasingly by natural gas and electricity, while LPG remains important in rural heating and cooking applications. Electricity generation in France is predominantly nuclear and renewable, limiting refinery fuel use in this sector. Other niche sectors such as railways, domestic waterways, and agriculture continue to use diesel and LPG for locomotives, boats, and farming machinery, though their overall contribution to fuel demand is minor compared to transportation and industrial applications. Recent trends emphasize cleaner fuels and biofuel blending to meet national emissions reduction targets.

France’s refining feedstock is characterized by a diversified import portfolio, sourcing crude oil from Africa (notably Algeria and Nigeria), the Middle East, and the North Sea. This diversification reduces dependency risks and allows refiners to optimize crude blends based on market conditions and product slate demands. Since the EU sanctions on Russian crude following geopolitical conflicts in 2022, French refineries have significantly reduced Russian crude intake, seeking alternative sources to maintain refinery throughput. Major French refineries such as those at Gonfreville and Feyzin have adapted operations to process a wider range of crude types, improving flexibility amid shifting supply chains. The La Mède refinery has undergone a biorefinery conversion to produce renewable diesel and biofuels, representing France’s move towards sustainable refining. This facility uses biobased feedstocks, including vegetable oils and waste oils, supporting the country’s biofuel blending mandates and climate goals. The use of coal tar and other unconventional feedstocks remains very limited in France, consistent with the country’s focus on cleaner fuels and stricter environmental regulations. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) are processed primarily for LPG production and petrochemical feedstock, sourced domestically and via imports. Refiners also monitor crude oil price volatility closely, adjusting feedstock purchases and blending to maintain margins in a competitive European market. The emphasis on feedstock flexibility and renewable inputs is expected to continue as France aligns its refining industry with broader decarbonization policies under the EU Green Deal and national energy transition strategies.

French refineries are characterized by a range of complexity levels, with high complexity facilities such as the Gonfreville refinery equipped with extensive conversion units like fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, and coking units. These deep conversion refineries enable the processing of heavy and sour crude oils into higher-value transportation fuels and petrochemical feedstocks while complying with stringent environmental standards. Biorefinery conversion trends are increasingly prominent, highlighted by projects like the La Mède refinery, which transitioned from traditional refining to biofuel production focused on hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). New investments also focus on expanding renewable fuel production capabilities to meet EU climate goals and upcoming taxonomies promoting low-carbon fuel production. Many refineries are undergoing efficiency revamps driven by EU environmental taxonomies, targeting reductions in carbon intensity, sulfur content, and greenhouse gas emissions. These upgrades include advanced desulfurization units, hydrogen production enhancements, and electrification of refinery processes. Medium complexity refineries with hydro-skimming configurations still exist but face pressure to upgrade or repurpose due to tightening regulations and market dynamics. Limited new greenfield refinery projects reflect a mature and highly regulated market, while retrofit and digitalization investments grow to optimize existing assets. The sector also explores carbon capture and storage (CCS) integration and other technologies aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of refining operations.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Oil Refining Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Fule Type
• Gasoline
• Diesel/Gasoil
• Jet Fuel
• LPG
• Fuel Oil
• Others (Lubricants, Asphalt)

By Application
• Road Transportation
• Aviation
• Marine Bunker
• Petrochemical Industry
• Residential & Commercial
• Electricity Generation
• Others (Rail & Domestic Waterways, Agriculture)

By Feedstock
• Crude Oil
• Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)
• Biomass
• Others (Coal Tar, etc.)

By Complexity Type
• Topping
• Hydro-skimming
• Conversion
• Deep Conversion
• Others Show more