Oil Refinery Throughput โ - Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the operational output of the refining sector rather than its installed capacity. This indicator reflects the extent to which refinery infrastructure is utilized to convert crude oil into refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other petroleum products. Oil Refinery Throughput is widely used to assess refinery operations, downstream petroleum activity, fuel production levels, and the efficiency of refinery utilization.
It serves as an important indicator of refinery utilization, fuel production, industrial efficiency, energy security, and Italy's ability to meet domestic and regional petroleum product demand.
Italy recorded oil refinery throughput of 1.35 million barrels daily in 2015, declining to 1.29 million barrels daily in 2016 before increasing to 1.40 million barrels daily in 2017, the highest level during the review period. Throughput eased to 1.35 million barrels daily in 2018 and remained broadly stable at 1.36 million barrels daily in 2019. In 2020, refinery throughput declined significantly to 1.11 million barrels daily because of reduced fuel demand, refinery maintenance, and operational disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughput recovered to 1.22 million barrels daily in 2021, increased further to 1.32 million barrels daily in 2022, and moderated slightly to 1.29 million barrels daily in 2023, reflecting stable refinery operations and downstream market conditions.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates relatively stable refinery throughput with moderate fluctuations throughout the review period. Although throughput declined sharply during 2020, the subsequent recovery highlights improving refinery utilization, operational efficiency, and resilient demand for refined petroleum products.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Italy's refinery throughput trends, analyzing downstream industry performance, and assessing crude oil processing activity. It supports refinery utilization analysis, investment planning, energy security assessments, and policy evaluation while providing valuable insights for researchers, analysts, industry stakeholders, and policymakers studying refinery efficiency, infrastructure utilization, and the long-term competitiveness of Italy's petroleum refining industry.