- Oil Refinery Throughput refers to the actual volume of crude oil and other refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during a given period.
North America Oil Refinery Throughput was 18,471 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022. The Oil Refinery Throughput dataset for North America from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of petroleum refining activity across the region, incorporating throughput data from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Measured in thousand barrels daily, the dataset represents the actual volume of crude oil processed by refineries across North America each day.
North America Oil Refinery Throughput moved from 18,892 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 18,471 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (−2.2%), an average of −0.3% a year. The series high was 19,234 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the low 16,387 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2018) and low (2020) is 2,847 Thousand Barrels Daily. The sharpest single-year move was −13.6% in 2020.
Within North America, U.S. has the highest value in 2023 at 15,963 Thousand Barrels Daily, 86.4% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Thousand Barrels Daily. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
By region
Thousand Barrels Daily, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Barrels Daily | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18,471 | −0.1% |
| 2022 | 18,489 | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 17,513 | +6.9% |
| 2020 Trough | 16,387 | −13.6% |
| 2019 | 18,977 | −1.3% |
| 2018Peak | 19,234 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 19,114 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 18,714 | −0.9% |
| 2015 | 18,892 | — |
Data definition
Oil Refinery Throughput — - 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.
The data includes the actual quantity of crude oil and eligible refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during the reporting period. It covers throughput from both public and privately operated refineries, including onshore and, where applicable, offshore refining facilities. The indicator reflects crude oil processed into refined petroleum products regardless of whether the crude oil is domestically produced or imported. It includes refinery operations across all major processing units involved in converting crude oil into finished petroleum products. Data is compiled from national energy authorities, refinery operators, and standardized international energy databases using internationally recognized reporting methodologies, enabling consistent comparison of refinery throughput across countries and over time.
The data excludes refinery nameplate capacity, crude oil production, crude oil reserves, oil consumption, imports and exports of refined petroleum products, and refinery utilization rates when reported separately. It does not include production from natural gas processing plants, biofuel refineries, synthetic fuel facilities, gas-to-liquids (GTL), or coal-to-liquids (CTL) plants unless specifically classified within refinery operations. The indicator also excludes petrochemical manufacturing processes that do not involve crude oil refining and does not directly measure refinery efficiency, product quality, profitability, or environmental performance. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting standards, feedstock classifications, refinery accounting practices, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
Oil Refinery Throughput — - 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 the region's ability to meet domestic consumption and export market requirements.
North America recorded oil refinery throughput of 18,892 thousand barrels daily in 2015, remaining relatively stable at 18,714 thousand barrels daily in 2016 before increasing to 19,114 thousand barrels daily in 2017. Throughput rose further to 19,234 thousand barrels daily in 2018, the highest level during the review period, before easing slightly to 18,977 thousand barrels daily in 2019. In 2020, regional refinery throughput declined significantly to 16,387 thousand barrels daily because of reduced fuel demand, refinery shutdowns, and pandemic-related operational disruptions. Processing volumes recovered to 17,513 thousand barrels daily in 2021, increased to 18,489 thousand barrels daily in 2022, and remained nearly stable at 18,471 thousand barrels daily in 2023, reflecting improving refinery utilization and stronger downstream market conditions.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates relatively stable refinery throughput with moderate fluctuations throughout the review period. Although throughput declined during 2020, the subsequent recovery highlights resilient refining infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and sustained demand for refined petroleum products across North America.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating North America's refinery throughput trends, analyzing regional downstream industry performance, and assessing crude oil processing activity. It supports refinery utilization analysis, energy security planning, market assessments, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing valuable insights for researchers, analysts, industry stakeholders, and policymakers studying refinery efficiency, infrastructure utilization, and the long-term competitiveness of North America's petroleum refining industry.
Using this data in a report, paper or presentation? Copy a formatted citation.
Definition- 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.
North America Oil Refinery Throughput was 18,471 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, down 0.1% on 2022.
North America Oil Refinery Throughput moved from 18,892 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 18,471 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (−2.2%), an average of −0.3% a year. The series high was 19,234 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the low 16,387 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The highest value was 19,234 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2018 and the lowest was 16,387 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
Included: The data includes the actual quantity of crude oil and eligible refinery feedstocks processed by petroleum refineries during the reporting period. It covers throughput from both public and privately operated refineries, including onshore and, where applicable, offshore refining facilities. The indicator reflects crude oil processed into refined petroleum products regardless of whether the crude oil is domestically produced or imported. It includes refinery operations across all major processing units involved in converting crude oil into finished petroleum products. Data is compiled from national energy authorities, refinery operators, and standardized international energy databases using internationally recognized reporting methodologies, enabling consistent comparison of refinery throughput across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes refinery nameplate capacity, crude oil production, crude oil reserves, oil consumption, imports and exports of refined petroleum products, and refinery utilization rates when reported separately. It does not include production from natural gas processing plants, biofuel refineries, synthetic fuel facilities, gas-to-liquids (GTL), or coal-to-liquids (CTL) plants unless specifically classified within refinery operations. The indicator also excludes petrochemical manufacturing processes that do not involve crude oil refining and does not directly measure refinery efficiency, product quality, profitability, or environmental performance. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting standards, feedstock classifications, refinery accounting practices, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
Need more data?
Need a longer historical series, a custom country set, additional dimensions, or a tailored dataset? Send us your requirement.