Slower desulfurization growth seen in US, Canada

Nov. 9, 2009
Refinery desulfurization capacities for gas oil and naphtha in US and Canada will continue to grow through 2013 but more slowly than they did in 2000-08, says a study by GlobalData, London.

Refinery desulfurization capacities for gas oil and naphtha in US and Canada will continue to grow through 2013 but more slowly than they did in 2000-08, says a study by GlobalData, London.

Among 134 active refineries in the US and Canada covered by the study, gas oil desulfurization increased from 2.8348 million b/d in 2000 to 3.8216 million b/d in 2008. The total is expected to reach 3.979 million b/d in 2013.

The average growth rate thus will decline from 3.7%/year in 2000-08 to 0.8%/year in the forecast period, the study says.

Naphtha desulfurization capacity in the US and Canada will increase to 4.6379 million b/d in 2013 from 4.5983 million b/d in 2008 and 4.3418 million b/d in 2000, GlobalData predicts.

The average growth rate for naphtha desulfurization capacity will decline from 0.7%/year in 2000-08 to 0.2%/year in 2008-13.

The US and Canada have a combined 22% of the world's refinery distillation capacity but 36% of its gas oil desulfurization capacity, the study notes. Their combined naphtha desulfurization capacity is 40% of the global total.

The US share of global gas oil desulfurization capacity is 32.8% and Canada's, 3.1%, GlobalData says.

Refiners have been adding desulfurization capacity to meet requirements for ultralow-sulfur diesel and gasoline.

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Photo from ExxonMobil Corp.
ExxonMobil Fawley complex, UK.
Photos from Repsol SA.
Repsol SA Cartagena refinery in Spain.

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