The consumption of oil has steadily increased over the last three decades, totaling ************ metric tons in 2024, compared to ************ metric tons consumed the previous year. The only decline during this period was observed around the 2008-2009 financial crisis and around the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Regional oil consumption The United States and China are the countries with the highest oil consumption. Overall, oil consumption worldwide reached a new high in 2023, when it exceeded *********** metric tons for the first time. However, this growth in consumption was the highest in Asia Pacific, where figures went up by some *** percent. In the United States, high consumption levels were held up by demand for petrochemicals as well as increased industrial production and demand for transportation by trucks. What is crude oil? Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons from plant animal life that was formed under immense pressure. It generally exists in liquid form and can be found in underground pools or reservoirs, in small spaces within sedimentary rocks, and near the Earth’s surface as a tar (also known as oil sands). In turn, crude oil and other hydrocarbons in natural gases are refined to form petroleum products such as gasoline and jet fuel.

Road transportation is the greatest oil demanding sector in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member states. In 2023, 49.02 percent of all oil consumed in the OECD was related to motor vehicle usage. By comparison, the petrochemical sector which manufactures plastics, resins, and other petroleum-based products, only made up about an eighth of total demand. U.S. and China by far largest consumers The United States and China are the greatest oil consumers worldwide by a wide margin. In 2023, daily oil consumption in these countries amounted to 19 million barrels and 16.6 million barrels, respectively. Daily global crude oil demand, including biofuels, reached 102.21 million barrels in 2023, up from 99.57 million barrels in 2022. The future road sector Oil is used in numerous manufacturing processes and still accounts for a large chunk of primary energy supply worldwide. It is largely used to produce transportation fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. As such, demand is also shaped by a growth or decline in internal-combustion engine vehicle usage and overall economic performance. During the 2020 pandemic, oil demand within the road sector decreased as lockdowns were enforced across the world. With many countries pushing for a wider adoption of electric vehicles, oil demand in the road sector is likely to be further affected going forward.