ALEXANDRIA, VA – An increase in overall vehicle efficiencies and the growing use of compressed natural gas for heavy-duty vehicles will more than offset a substantial increase in the number of diesel-powered light-duty vehicles in the market and lead to a decline in U.S. diesel demand beginning in 2016, according to a new report released today.
U.S. diesel fuel demand is expected to drop 12.5% from a near-term peak of roughly 4 million barrels per day (MMB/D) in 2015 to 3.5 MMB/D in 2030, according to the report, “An Assessment of the Diesel Fuel Market: Demand, Supply, Trade and Key Drivers.” The 32-page report, developed by the PIRA Energy Group, was commissioned by the Fuels Institute, with funding support from the NATSO Foundation, to analyze domestic diesel fuel demand, production capacity, international demand, trade balances and the various programs and requirements that might affect overall diesel demand.
While domestic demand for diesel fuel is expected to peak in 2015, global demand for diesel fuel is expected to increase by more than 6 MMB/D from 2013 to 2030, driven by industrialization in emerging markets as well as by increased use of diesel in global shipping fuels, according to the report.
Both domestically and internationally, diesel fuel’s further demand will be strongly affected by new fueling options, shifts in fuel usages and improved efficiencies, whether related to light-duty (passenger) vehicles, heavy-duty (commercial truck) vehicles or industrial applications.
Among the domestic light-duty vehicle fleet, diesel demand is expected to more than triple — from less than 0.3 MMB/D to 1 MMB/D by 2030 as diesel vehicles gain market share. But at the same time, diesel fuel will face competition from new fueling options, especially electrification in its various forms (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electrics) and further advances in engine efficiencies that will decrease overall fuel demand.
Meanwhile, competition from natural gas and expected increases in vehicle efficiency will cause domestic diesel fuel demand for heavy-duty vehicles to decrease from nearly 2.6 MMB/D today to 1.8 MMB/D by 2030. Other sources of diesel demand also should decline in aggregate due to efficiency improvements and substitution. Total domestic diesel demand is projected to decline 12.5% by 2030.
“Changing consumer demand for diesel fuel will have a significant effect on fuel retailers and the U.S. economy,” said NATSO Foundation President Lisa Mullings. “This report will help truckstops and travel plazas develop a sound strategy for optimizing these market changes to lead the fuel retailing industry into the future.”
As U.S.-based demand for diesel fuel decreases, the country will expand its role as a large net exporter of diesel fuel, the report found. On a global basis, refiners should be able to meet anticipated diesel demand through 2030 while keeping yields essentially constant. Diesel fuel and jet fuel are likely to remain premium products, and individual refiners around the world will face economic incentives to maintain or increase their middle distillate yields.
The forecasts are good news for the U.S. petroleum industry, according to Fuels Institute Executive Director John Eichberger.
“The U.S. is very well positioned to supply its own domestic fuel needs while also playing a growing role as a global product exporter. The expected significant increase in light-duty vehicle demand for diesel fuel should not affect overall domestic diesel or gasoline supplies, nor compromise the nation’s ability to contribute to the international market. This is good news for fuel consumers as it indicates this shift in consumption patterns should not create economic imbalances,” said Eichberger.
The report is available for download at www.fuelsinstitute.org. The Institute will continue to regularly publish additional reports about transportation fuels.
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The NATSO Foundation (www.natsofoundation.org) is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc., the trade association of America’s travel plaza and truckstop industry. The foundation is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 151,000 stores across the country, posted $696 billion in total sales in 2013, of which $491 billion were motor fuels sales. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,600 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.
The Fuels Institute, founded by NACS in 2013, is a non-profit research-oriented think tank dedicated to evaluating market issues related to vehicles and the fuels that power them. Led by a Board of Directors and driven by a Board of Advisors, the Fuels Institute incorporates the perspective of interested stakeholders affected by this market, including fuel retailers, fuel producers and refiners, alternative and renewable fuel producers, automobile manufacturers, environmental advocates, consumer organizations, academics, government entities and other stakeholders with expertise in the fuels and automotive industries.
Media Contact:
Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman
Vice President, Public Affairs
Phone: (703) 739-8578
Email: twlazlowski@natso.com
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