Increased flying leads to more jet fuel consumption in China

Increased flying leads to more jet fuel consumption in China. Passenger-kilometers flown in China, which accounts for both the number of passengers and distance flown, continues to reach new highs after pandemic restrictions were lifted in late-2022. Like other countries, China’s flying activity is highly seasonal, with passenger-kilometers typically reaching its highest for the year in August. 

More passengers on flights leads to more jet fuel consumption which, along with petrochemical feedstocks naphtha and liquified petroleum gases, is leading to growth in total petroleum consumption in China. China consumed nearly 1 million barrels per day of jet fuel in August, just shy of its all-time high. Despite increases in jet fuel consumption this year, the fact that the country is flying more passenger-kilometers at similar levels of fuel consumption suggests increased efficiency in China’s aviation sector.