Sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels, March 2005, preliminary figures

More auto diesel than motor gasoline was sold in the first quarter of 2005. In the period 1998 to 2004 the annual sales of auto diesel increased from 1.88 billion litres to 2.27 billion litres. This equals an increase of 397 million litres, or 21.1 per cent. In the same period the sale of motor gasoline has been reduced by 57 million litres to 2.22 billion litres. The total sale of motor fuel has increased by 340 million litres to 4.49 billion litres from 1998 to 2004.

The sale of auto diesel passed the sale of motor gasoline for the first time in 2004.. This corresponds to the development in the stock of cars in Norway. In the period 1998 to 2004 there has been an increase in the stock of cars with engines fuelled with auto diesel, from 400.000 to 617.000, an increase of 54 per cent. In the same period the stock of cars with petrol engines increased slightly by 20.000. This trend also seems to apply in other countries. In Denmark there has been an increase of 17.2 per cent in the sale of auto diesel while the sale of motor gasoline has decreased by 3.6 per cent. Also in Britain, 2004 was the first year where the sale of auto diesel equalled the sale of motor gasoline.

Last quarter

In the first quarter of 2005 delivery of petroleum products totalled 2.2 billion litres - a decrease of 103 million litres, or 4.5 per cent, compared with the first quarter in 2004. The main contributors to the reduction are motor gasoline and heating products. The sale of motor gasoline decreased by 23 million litres while heating and lighting kerosene and light heating oils decreased by 10 million litres and 75 million litres, respectively. The sale of auto diesel, marine gas oil and diesel and heavy fuel oil increased by a total of 24 million litres, but this was not enough to prevent a reduction in the total sale of petroleum.

Total deliveries of 750 million litres in March

Total deliveries of petroleum products in March came to 750 million litres, a decrease of 4.5 per cent, or 38 million litres, compared with March 2004. The reduction distributes even on most petroleum products except for a slight increase in the sales of jet fuel, heating and lighting kerosene and heavy fuel oil of 8 million litres. Due to an early Easter holidays this year, there were 3 fewer delivery days in March 2005 than in 2004, and therefore the figures will not be directly comparable with the figures for 2004.

There were 20 delivery days in March, and 23 in the corresponding month of 2004.

Tables:

• Table 1 Deliveries of petroleum products. Million litres. Preliminary figures
• Table 2 Deliveries of petroleum products, by group of purchasers. Million litres. Preliminary figures
• Table 3 Deliveries of petroleum products, by county. Million litres. Preliminary figures