U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #346: November 15, 2004
What Is Made from a Barrel of Crude Oil?

The answer to that question varies for each country and region around the world. In North America, gasoline is the prevailing motor fuel; thus, 41% of the product produced by North American refineries is gasoline. The refineries in European countries, where 44% of new passenger car sales are diesels, produce a greater share of diesel fuel (36%) than gasoline (21%).

Refinery Gross Output by World Region, 2003
Graph showing percentage of refinery gross output of a barrel of crude oil by world regions in 2003.

Note: OECD = Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Supporting Information

Refinery Gross Output Shares by World Region, 2003
  North America OECD Europe OECD Pacific Total OECD
Liquified Petroleum Gas 2.2% 2.9% 2.5% 2.5%
Naptha 1.7% 6.1% 9.1% 4.5%
Total Gasoline 41.0% 20.7% 18.7% 30.1%
Total Kerosene 8.1% 6.1% 14.3% 8.5%
Diesel Oil 23.4% 36.2% 27.8% 28.6%
Residual Fuel Oil 6.9% 15.8% 19.1% 12.1%
Other Products 16.7% 12.2% 8.6% 13.7%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Source: International Energy Agency, Monthly Oil Survey, February 2004, Paris, France, Table 7.

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