Global Oil Demand Climbs to an All-Time High in December - JODI Data
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Global oil demand climbed in December by 1.3 mb/d to a new record high, according to new data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI). Demand growth was driven primarily by gains in Japan, Indonesia, and Korea.
Meanwhile, global crude production declined by 274 kb/d in December to a 5-month low, led by losses in the US and UK.
Global demand was at 102 percent of pre-COVID levels in December, while crude production was at 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
While markets tightened compared to November, global inventories of crude and refined products climbed counter seasonally by 5.46 mb. Inventories remain 354 mb below the five-year average.
This month’s report did not include December data for China or Russia. However, Russia’s November data was included for the first time. Russian crude production increased by 143 kb/d in November to 10.02 mb/d and was only 235 kb/d below pre-invasion levels. Meanwhile, Russia’s natural gas production increased by 2.6 bcm to a six-month high.
EU+UK natural gas inventories declined by 9.5 bcm in December, less than the seasonal average draw of 11.5 bcm. Inventories stood at 85 percent full at the end of the month.
The JODI oil and gas databases were updated on Monday with 53 countries reporting data for the latest month of December 2022. The December data submissions account for more than 57 percent of global oil demand and global crude production.
Oil December data highlights:
- Saudi Arabia
- Crude production fell by 33 kb/d to 10.44 mb/d.
- Crude exports rose by 157 kb/d to 7.44 mb/d.
- Crude inventories fell by 3.05 mb and product inventories increased by 2.66 mb.
- Direct crude burn rose counter-seasonally by 48 kb/d to 477 kb/d – a five-year seasonal high.
- United States
- Crude production fell by 288 kb/d to 12.09 mb/d.
- Total product demand rose by 169 kb/d to 20.76 mb/d.
- Crude oil closing stocks fell by 6.55 mb to the lowest level recorded in JODI.
- Product closing stocks increased by 6.41 mb.
- Japan
- Total product demand rose by 512 kb/d to a 12-month high.
- Russia (November data)
- Crude production rose by 143 kb/d to 10.02 mb/d.
- Crude refinery intake rose by 68 kb/d to 5.71 mb/d.
Natural gas December data highlights:
- Natural gas demand increased by 30.96 bcm in December. Meanwhile, gas production fell by 0.18 bcm month-on-month.
- EU+UK gas consumption was at a five-year seasonal low in December. Inventories fell by 9.5 bcm to stand 85 percent full at the end of the month. The group’s LNG imports were up 66 percent from a year ago.
- Total gas inventories decreased by 27.6 bcm month-on-month in line with the seasonal average draw.
The full JODI oil and gas database will be available today at noon BST and can be viewed at jodidb.org or jodidata.org. The next update will be on Thursday, March 16th with data through January 2023.
