PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CONSUMPTION SHOWS INCREASE IN GERMANY

Petroleum product sales in the former West German states were spurred by unification of the two Germanies to a rise of 4.4% last year, Esso AG reports. Sales of light heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline led the gains. Total inland sales were 103.3 million metric tons or 2,074,500 b/d. The figures mainly cover sales in the former West German region, although small volumes sold across the former border area appear in the totals.

Jan. 21, 1991

2 min read

Petroleum product sales in the former West German states were spurred by unification of the two Germanies to a rise of 4.4% last year, Esso AG reports.

Sales of light heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline led the gains.

Total inland sales were 103.3 million metric tons or 2,074,500 b/d.

The figures mainly cover sales in the former West German region, although small volumes sold across the former border area appear in the totals.

The gains were mainly because of increased traffic brought on by opening of the border in 1989 and the German currency union of last summer, Esso says. This increased economic activity led to more truck and private vehicle traffic heading east and west.

Even heavy fuel oil got a lift from the economic union. In contrast to a large expected decline, sales held steady at 6.7 million tons, the same as 1989.

Refinery production of heavy heating fuel jumped 9.4% to about 7.5 million tons.

The reason was greater use in power generating stations in Berlin and Bavaria, which furnished electricity to eastern German and higher refinery consumption.

German refining capacity, again excluding that in the former East Germany, stood at 78.3 million tons/year at midyear and yearend 1990. The 1990 utilization rate was 96.6% last year, compared with 88.7% in 1989.

GASOLINE SALES

In addition to cross border traffic, gasoline sales increased from growth in the German auto fleet. In the first 11 months of 1990 new permits for autos rose 8.5% from the same period in 1989.

German drivers also increased the market share of unleaded gasoline to the highest level in Europe.

Share of unleaded went from 58% in 1989 to 69% in 1990.

Germany thus moved ahead of Denmark with its 57% unleaded share and Sweden with its 52%. Germany's unleaded share may fall this year as eastern Germany sales and statistics are integrated. Many cars in the former East Germany burn low octane leaded gasoline.