By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 3 -- 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.
