Oil Consumption — - Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the demand for oil-based fuels and products across the economy. The indicator includes the use of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and other oil-derived products consumed by transportation, industry, power generation, residential, commercial, and other sectors. Oil Consumption is a key measure of a country’s energy demand, economic activity, transportation intensity, and dependence on petroleum resources.
Measured in thousand barrels daily, the dataset serves as an important indicator of energy demand, transportation fuel consumption, industrial activity, and the performance of Belgium's oil market. It enables assessment of long-term consumption patterns, market dynamics, and changes in petroleum demand across major consuming sectors, supporting analysis of the country's evolving energy landscape and fuel consumption trends.
Belgium's oil consumption remained relatively stable during the early years of the review period, increasing from 613 thousand barrels daily in 2015 to 615 thousand in 2016 and 620 thousand in 2017. Demand reached a peak of 668 thousand barrels daily in 2018 before declining to 628 thousand in 2019. Consumption fell sharply to 541 thousand barrels daily in 2020, reflecting lower transportation activity and reduced industrial fuel demand. Petroleum consumption recovered to 600 thousand barrels daily in 2021 before easing to 583 thousand in 2022 and 556 thousand barrels daily in 2023. Despite the post-pandemic recovery, consumption remained below the levels recorded before 2020.
Overall, the dataset indicates moderate fluctuations in Belgium's oil consumption, with a temporary decline during 2020 followed by partial recovery in the subsequent years. The long-term trend reflects evolving energy demand, improvements in fuel efficiency, and changing consumption patterns across transportation and industrial sectors. The dataset serves as a valuable resource for monitoring oil consumption trends, evaluating energy demand, supporting market analysis, forecasting future petroleum consumption, and enabling policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders to develop informed energy policies, infrastructure strategies, and long-term investment decisions.