Thailand's oil demand slows as alternative fuels pick up

Thailand's oil demand slows as alternative fuels pick up

Bangkok (Platts)--18Sep2006

Thailand's demand for gasoil and gasoline slipped in the first eight
months of the year on the back of high prices and a switch towards using more
alternative fuels such as ethanol-blended gasoline and natural gas for
vehicles, an energy ministry official said Monday.
Demand for gasoil between January and August came in 8.4% lower on the
year at 50.9 million liters/day and gasoline fell 2.5% on the year to 19.6
million liters/day, Panich Pongpirodom, director general of the Department of
Energy Business said Monday.
Meanwhile, demand for 10% ethanol-blended gasoline, also called gasohol,
tripled to 3.5 million liters/day compared with 1.2 million liters/day in
January-August 2005, Panich said. Demand for NGV surged by 53% to 9,500
Mcf/day.
Separately, Thailand's crude imports averaged at 842,000 b/d in the first
eight months of the year, down 1.5% from the corresponding 2005 period,
according to Panich. However, crude imports in August alone were up 4% on the
year at 895,000 b/d due to shipment delays. Besides, some shipments due in
September arrived in August, he said. This should bring down September imports
to 820,000 b/d from the earlier projected 850,000 b/d.
Thailand exported 59,000 b/d of crude oil between January-August, down
3.3% on the year. Meanwhile, exports of refined products rose 14.4% to 135,000
b/d, Panich said.

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