The Petroleum Refining industry is the province of four large oil companies: BP, Shell, Caltex and ExxonMobil. At the start of 2012-13, the first three of these companies each operated two refineries and ExxonMobil operated just one, having mothballed a smaller refinery several years ago. However, Shell is due to close its small Clyde refinery in Sydney by the end of September 2012, and other refinery closures are in the pipeline.
In mid-2012, Australia's total refinery capacity amounts to about 45,430 megalitres, including three lubricating oil refineries with a capacity of about 650 megalitres, but refinery output is expected to be only 35,305 megalitres in 2012-13.
Firms in this industry refine crude oil or condensate (a light form of oil) to produce petrol, fuel oil, aviation fuel, lubricating oil, grease base stock, petroleum gases and other petroleum products. These products are then marketed by wholesalers and retailers, which may also be owned by firms that operate refineries.
The report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecast, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.
