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 Taiwan's ability to meet domestic petroleum product demand.
Taiwan recorded oil refinery throughput of 838 thousand barrels daily in 2015, increasing to 861 thousand barrels daily in 2016 before easing to 848 thousand barrels daily in 2017. Throughput increased to 889 thousand barrels daily in 2018 and 890 thousand barrels daily in 2019, the highest level during the review period. In 2020, refinery throughput declined significantly to 726 thousand barrels daily because of reduced fuel demand and operational disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Processing volumes recovered to 770 thousand barrels daily in 2021, increased to 815 thousand barrels daily in 2022, and moderated slightly to 807 thousand barrels daily in 2023, reflecting improving refinery operations and stable downstream demand.
Overall, the dataset indicates relatively stable refinery throughput with moderate fluctuations throughout the review period. The decline during 2020 was followed by a gradual recovery, highlighting improving refinery utilization and resilient petroleum product demand.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Taiwan'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 development of Taiwan's petroleum refining industry.