Elizabeth de Jong, Chief Executive of Fuels Industry UK, said:
"UK refineries are critical to our energy security and national resilience, especially in an increasingly unstable global context. Over the past two decades we have seen four UK refineries close, and UK diesel imports rise from just 16% of total demand in 2000 to 54% of today.
"Our four remaining refineries provide critical national resilience, reducing the UK's dependence on international supply chains. But without urgent protection against carbon and investment leakage, more UK refineries are at risk of closure.
“With global uncertainty increasing, now is the time for the UK Government to show it is taking energy security seriously and to ensure our remaining refineries are protected. The forthcoming Autumn Budget must urgently address this issue and include measures to level the playing field for our remaining refineries.”
Background
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The UK imports 54% of the diesel we consume, with the remainder coming from domestic production. In 2000, the UK imported just 16% of total diesel consumed.
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Of the diesel the UK imports, the top 3 exporters to the UK were: USA (31% of imports. 17% of total UK demand), the Netherlands (26% of imports. 14% of total UK demand), and Belgium (11% of imports. 6% of total UK diesel demand).
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The UK follows IEA guidance on stock storage, with DESNZ providing a quarterly update to refiners and importers on what stock levels must be held by them on behalf of the UK government.
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Total demand for liquid fuels has risen by 1% over the last year
- Total UK refinery output is 49.4 Mt, down from 89.8 Mt in 2000
- In 2025, 29% of total UK refinery output was petrol, 24% was diesel and 6% was jet fuel.