API: Industry sets multiple records to meet historic consumer demand

WASHINGTON -- In a remarkable month, the American Petroleum Institute’s latest Monthly Statistical Report (MSR) shows the U.S. natural gas and oil industry established multiple records in December, including the highest:

• U.S. production of crude oil (11.7 MMbpd) and natural gas liquids (NGLs) (4.8 MMbpd);
  Crude oil exports (2.4 MMbpd, tie with Nov. 2018);
• Annual gasoline demand (9.3 MMbpd, tie with 2016 and 2017);
• Refinery and petrochemical feedstock demand for December (5.5 MMbpd);
• Refinery throughput for the month of December (17.7 MMbpd) and year (17.3 MMbpd); and,
• Refinery capacity utilization for the month of December (95.0%) and year (93.0%, tie with 2004).

“With strong economic growth in 2018 and remarkable productivity by the natural gas and oil industry, the United States contributed more than 2.1 MMbpd of new oil supplies in 2018, including all liquid fuels, which was the greatest addition to supply that the world has ever seen in a single year. The U.S. met virtually all of the growth in global oil demand for the year – more than compensating for declines among OPEC nations,” said API Chief Economist Dean Foreman.

With record refinery throughput, total petroleum inventories – led by refined products – built to within 2.6% of the maximum of the five-year historical range. Meanwhile, the U.S. also took another step closer to energy independence with petroleum net imports falling below 2.0 MMbpd in December.

Markets remained resilient and, despite trade frictions with China, U.S. petroleum trade has found other international markets.

For more information on the monthly reports, please visit our API website, where the reports are now available to view and share.

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the natural gas and oil industry, which supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and nearly 8% of the U.S. economy. For nearly a hundred years, API which started as a standards-setting organization has developed almost 700 standards to enhance the safety of our workers and protect the community and environment – standards the world looks to as a guide. API’s more than 600 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 47 million Americans.