Global refining capacity is going to keep growing
Fast-growing markets are adding more plants and eking out gains at older ones. What's coming on, where, and when?
Global refinery capacity looks set to expand steadily through the early 2020s, and industry utilisation rates are expected to remain high. Capacity expansion is expected to lag most analyst expectations of world oil demand growth of 1.3m barrels a day per year by about 300,000 b/d per year through the early 2020s. Most new capacity is being developed in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions. New refinery construction is underway as oil markets face significant shifts in product output and demand. Rising US light tight oil (LTO) output suggests increased light distillate production, while an expected increase in middle distillate demand will stem from new IMO regulations mandating the
Also in this section
29 January 2026
Caught between LNG risks from across the Atlantic and the wounds from Russian gas dependence, Europe needs more than a simple diversification strategy
28 January 2026
The alliance looks to bolster market management credibility by bringing greater clarity and unity to output cuts and producer capacity later in 2026
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions






