The Sultanate is witnessing an increase in production and sale of premium- and super-grade M95 petrol in 2021, when compared to 2020, as per a report issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The report details that the automotive fuel production market has witnessed an increase in the production of automotive fuel of 1.8 per cent, and a subsequent jump of 22 per cent in the production of super-grade (M95) petrol in the month of February 2021, when compared with the same period in 2020.

Of the total production, domestic sales of M95 fuel stood at 2,234,400 barrels – which is a bump of 6 per cent – while its exports stood at 534,400 barrels, comprising a staggering surge of 891 per cent, compared to the end of February 2020.

This comes despite an increase in the selling price of premium fuels in the country in the month of March, when compared with January and February 2021.

Currently, a litre of super-grade M95 petrol will set commuters back 215 baisas, as opposed to 202 baisas per litre from the month of February 2021.

However, it has been noted that the Sultanate’s production of standard grade (M91) fuel fell by 20 per cent – to 1,676,700 barrels.

Domestic sales of M91 fuel stood at 1,323,300 barrels during the period, whereas its exports touched 366,100 barrels – marking a strong decline of 71 per cent, compared to February 2020.

Meanwhile, gas oil – diesel – output soared by 37 per cent to 6,563,300 barrels, with its domestic sales standing at 2,068,000. This marked a drop of 8 per cent, whereas its exports reached 4,483,500 – an increase of 58 per cent, compared to February 2020.

A decline in the global demand for aviation fuel production has also led to a slump in production by 62 per cent – to 925,200 barrels at the end of February 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.

This has been substantiated to a drop in domestic sales by 72 per cent – to 229,200 barrels. Exports of aviation fuel fell by 57 per cent to 689,100 barrels.

LPG Production Drops Despite Rise In Domestic Sales

The production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) declined by 11 per cent to 1,115,000 barrels, until the end of February 2021, while its domestic sales rose by 62 per cent to 895,100 barrels.

Of the total production, exports of LPG reached 171,200 barrels – marking a drop of 75 per cent.

The uptick in Benzene production a positive sign

On the petrochemicals front, benzene production increased by 17 per cent, compared to February 2020, to reach 36,300 metric tons, while its exports stood at 32,800 metric tons, comprising a rise of 5 per cent.

Output of paraxylene stood at 91,100 metric tons, while its exports touched 97,200 metric tons.

Production of polypropylene stood at 22,700 metric tons, comprising a drop of 49 per cent while its domestic sales declined by 33 per cent to stand at 3,900 metric tons. Its exports reached 17,800 metric tons – marking a fall of 44 per cent.