Energy Tomorrow Blog
Production of Pandemic Essentials Helps Nation, Industry as 2021 Opens
monthly-stats-report economic recovery demand petroleum products
Dean Foreman
Posted January 14, 2021
API’s latest Monthly Statistical Report (MSR) underscores the importance to industry of producing essential materials during the pandemic – including sterile packaging, medical plastics and antimicrobial coatings, including polymers.
Naphtha and gasoil in refining and petrochemicals increased 10.3% year over year (y/y) in December to a record-high of 5.9 million barrels per day (mb/d), or 31.3% of total U.S. petroleum demand. Again, industry benefited from this demand and in the process helped the nation respond to the pandemic. The technical term for that is “win-win.”
December also produced an important milestone – confirmation that the U.S. was a petroleum net exporter on an annual basis for the first time in more than 60 years. It’s remarkable given the headwinds of COVID-19 and increased pressure for nations to become self-reliant. The abundance, affordability and empowering nature of U.S. petroleum has helped cut through pessimism about global trade.
Patagonia and Petroleum
petroleum products consumers power-past-impossible
Mark Green
Posted April 16, 2019
Patagonia’s limiting sales of its popular vests, excluding corporate clients judged not to be onboard with the outdoor clothier’s environmental and climate positions, apparently including natural gas and oil (see the last few sentences in this tweeted email from a certified Patagonia seller) – seems odd and inconsistent, given how much petroleum is used to make those products.
More on that below. First, let’s point out that, contrary to Patagonia’s impression of the natural gas and oil, our industry cares a great deal about environmental and climate progress – even as it supplies the energy that empowers modern life and growth in the United States. We need both, and they’re not mutually exclusive.
In this 21st century economy, Americans want access to affordable energy. You need energy for prosperity, mobility and good health, and Industry is committed to developing that energy safely and responsibly.
At the same time, industry is leading in important environmental and climate progress, by producing record amounts of clean natural gas – the chief reason U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have fallen to their lowest levels in a generation.
Talking Turkey, Barbeques and Abundant U.S. Propane
consumers natural gas petroleum products liquid fuels
Dean Foreman
Posted April 10, 2019
Connecting the renaissance in U.S. energy exports and chemical production with barbeques and turkey might not seem automatic, but hear me out. Thanks to the U.S. energy revolution, propane that’s widely used as a fuel for vital heating and cooking has never been more abundant and affordable.
Certainly, the need for affordable energy – available on-demand when and where you need it – is universal and something people I met recently during travels from Washington, D.C. to Minnesota and the Gulf Coast are talking about.
Petroleum Exports Retreat Suggests Global Economic Weakness
petroleum products refineries exports economic growth energy production
Dean Foreman
Posted February 14, 2019
API’s Monthly Statistical Report (MSR), based on January data, is a good news/challenging news proposition.
First the good. January data tell us the U.S. has never produced more oil (11.9 million barrels per day, mb/d) and natural gas liquids (4.9 mb/d).
At the same time, U.S. refineries ran at their highest rates (93 percent capacity utilization) and produced the most they ever have for the month of January (17.3 mb/d). Moreover, domestic gasoline demand also was the greatest on record for the month of January (8.9 mb/d). These are terrific milestones. ... But some interesting challenges also emerged.
U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement Supports U.S. Energy
trade oil and natural gas petroleum products mexico canada us energy security
Mark Green
Posted October 3, 2018
Announcement of the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) – locking in Canada and Mexico as our nation’s closest trading partners – is good news for the U.S. energy renaissance. Attention now turns to Congress, which should ratify the deal....
Because zero or reduced tariffs, market access between the three countries and trade liberalization all worked to the benefit of U.S. energy under NAFTA, our industry’s chief goal was an updated agreement was to keep in place features that have supported U.S. energy. USMCA does that – and Americans will be the beneficiaries.
Broad Business, Industry Support for NAFTA and Free Trade
trade mexico canada oil and natural gas petroleum products
Mark Green
Posted September 22, 2017
U.S. businesses and industries continue to press the case for preserving and strengthening NAFTA provisions that have supported U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico. A number of business and industry sectors joined an API-hosted conference call with reporters to underscore the need for ongoing negotiations between the U.S., Canada and Mexico to sustain treaty features that foster North American trade, including North American energy integration.
Growing Refining Capacity and Serving Consumers
refineries refinery capacity consumers petroleum products power-past-impossible
Mark Green
Posted July 24, 2017
Refined Products Trade Benefits North America
refineries petroleum products energy exports canada mexico trade
Mark Green
Posted March 22, 2017
Exports of finished petroleum products – including finished motor gasoline, propane, distillate fuel oil and others – to Canada and Mexico are a big part of the North American energy market that we posted on here, a market that is providing economic and security benefits to all three countries.
Jack-o-Lanterns and a High Energy Halloween
everything oil and natural gas petroleum products
Mark Green
Posted October 27, 2016
With Halloween nearly upon us, just about everyone’s got a set of stencils for turning pumpkins into fantastic jack-o-lanterns. The U.S. Energy Department’s collection of energy-themed stencils is terrific, but lacks patterns for oil and natural gas. Considering that oil and gas supply 65 percent of the energy Americans use today and are projected to furnish 67 percent of our energy in 2040, that got us to thinking: “Hey, without oil and natural gas, there wouldn’t be pumpkins to carve!”
Waterways Infrastructure: Supplying America
infrastructure transportation refineries petroleum products
Mark Green
Posted April 19, 2016
The United States has about 25,000 miles of navigable waterways and channels – vital transportation infrastructure for the delivery of raw materials and products that American consumers count on every day. Yet, as vital as these waterways are, they don’t always get as much attention as highways, roads and railroads.
With Congress likely to take up legislation that will include funding for waterways in the next month or so, it’s a good time to link that debate with the critical role water-borne commerce plays.