Sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels, September 2009, preliminary figures

In recent years, the sale of auto diesel has shown a steady increase. This trend, however, does not seem to continue into 2009. In the first nine months of 2009, sales of auto diesel ended at 2.2 billion litres; a decrease of 0.7 per cent or 15 million litres. This decrease is the result of a strong decrease in non-dutiable auto diesel. While the sales of non-dutiable auto diesel decreased by 8.4 per cent in the first three quarters of 2009 compared to the same period last year, the sales of dutiable auto diesel increased by 1.9 per cent in the same period.

Numbers from the Norwegian Road Federation (Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken) indicate a relatively high diesel share of newly registered cars in the period January-September 2009. However, the share of diesel cars has dropped by 1.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, and ended at 70.9 per cent.

The trend of decreasing sales of motor gasoline seems to be continuing. For the first nine months of 2009, sales of motor gasoline ended at 1.3 billion litres; a decrease of 5.6 per cent or 79 million litres. Looking at the two products collectively, the share of total sales amounted to 50.5 per cent. This equals a reduction of 0.8 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

Increased sales of light heating oils

While the sales of heating and lighting kerosene decreased in the first three quarters of 2009 by 11.9 per cent, the sales of light heating oils increased by 11.7 per cent. The joint sales of these two products amounted to 367 million litres in the first three quarters of 2009; an increase of about 27 million litres or 8 per cent.

Decline in air traffic reduces sales of jet fuel

Sales of jet fuel ended at 629 million litres in the first three quarters of 2009; a 7.5 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year. According to numbers from Avinor, air traffic dropped by 6 per cent in the same period. International traffic dropped by 9.5 per cent, while domestic traffic dropped by 3.9 per cent.

Total sales decreased in September

The total sale of petroleum products amounted to 847 million litres in September 2009; this equals a reduction of about 2.3 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Both the sales of motor gasoline and auto diesel decreased in September 2009 by 5.6 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively. Looking at the two products jointly, the share of total sales amounted to 48.6 per cent. This equals a reduction of 0.1 percentage points compared to the same month last year.

Sales of jet fuel amounted to 77 million litres; a decrease of 8.3 per cent compared to September last year. Numbers from Avinor show a reduction in air traffic of 4.2 per cent for the same month.

There were 22 delivery days in September 2009, the same as September last year.

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