The total production of refineries and petroleum industries rose by 7 percent at the end of April 2019 compared to the output recorded during the same period of 2018. Car fuel production also increased by 0.3 per cent, according to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The statistics showed that the refineries and petroleum industries rose the production of regular grade petrol (Mogas 91) by 11 per cent at the end of April 2019 to 5.274 million barrels compared to same period last year. Domestic sales of Mogas 91 rose 12 per cent to 3.571 million barrels while exports reached 1,957 million barrels.

Production of Mogas 95 rose 25 per cent to 4.307 million barrels, as the sales for this grade of petrol rose 42 per cent to 4.098 million barrels, while exports reached 544,000 barrels.

Production of diesel decreased 3 per cent to 8.814 million barrels in April 2019, but its domestic sales rose 19 per cent to 5.185 million barrels. Diesel exports decreased 8 per cent to 3.909 million barrels compared to the same period last year.

Jet fuel production rose 11 per cent to 4.774 million barrels in April 2019. Domestic sales of jet fuel increased by 3 per cent to 1,593 million barrels and its exports also increased 16 per cent to 3.213 million barrels.

The Sultanate’s production of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rose 10 per cent to 2,531 million barrels. Sales of LPG rose one per cent to 891,000 barrels while its exports jumped 19 per cent to 1, 664 million barrels.

As for petrochemicals, the petrol production decreased by 16 per cent compared to the end of April 2018 to 59,000 metric tonne (MT) while its exports reached 62,000 MT.

Paraxylene production declined one per cent to 204,000 MT and its exports also registered a decrease of 2 per cent to 199,000 MT.

Polypropylene production stabilised at 96,000 MT. Sales of polypropylene declined by 34 per cent to 14,000 MT, while its exports increased by 21 per cent to 89,000 MT.