Emissions from the supply of petroleum products petroleum products supplied by domestic petroleum refineries as well as the emissions from petroleum products imported and exported are reported in accordance with 40 CFR part 98, subpart MM are quantified for domestic petroleum refineries as well as importers and exporters of petroleum products. Generally, these the reported emissions fluctuate based on the supply and demand of specific fuels and feedstocks as well as economic conditions.

The emissions from products supplied by domestic refineries comprise nearly 75% of the total CO₂ emissions reported to this sector on an annual average. Until the economic downturn in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the emissions from products supplied by petroleum refineries had increased by approximately 17% for the period spanning 2012 to 2019, with emissions of 2,151 million metric tons (MMT) CO₂ and 2,513 515 MMT CO₂, respectively. Prior to 2020, production of fuels at domestic refineries increased, which was consistent with the data reported by petroleum refineries to the United States Energy Information Administration (a detailed explanation of refinery trends data is included in FAQ #833 ”What factors influenced the trend in emissions for refineries?”). In 2020, global demand for petroleum products decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be reflected we observe in the subpart MM reported data as a decrease in supplied petroleum products . Emissions from products supplied by petroleum refineries in 2020 almost and associated emissions which nearly returned to 2012 levels with an emissions total of 2,214 217 MMT CO₂representing a decrease of 12% from 2019. In 2021, the demand for petroleum products began to rebound from 2020 consistent with the data reported by petroleum refineries to the United States Energy Information Administration and the petroleum refinery trends reported under 40 CFR part 98. [1, 2, 3] The subpart MM quantities of petroleum product supplied and the associated emissions increased by 4% in 2021 from 2020 levels.

Petroleum products can be broadly categorized as transportation fuels and non-transportation products. Transportation fuels include all finished motor gasoline, gasoline blendsblend stocks, oxygenates, and light distillates. The non-transportation products category includes all other products listed in Table MM-1. About two-thirds petrochemical feedstocks, unfinished oils and other petroleum and natural gas liquids. About three quarters of the total CO₂ emissions from the product supplied by domestic petroleum refineries are from transportation fuels for all reporting years. There is no apparent shift in refinery product slate over the time series (including 2020) considering these broad product categories.

Prior to 2020, the trend of increasing emissions was supported by an increase in Petroleum product emissions trends are largely dependent on domestic and global demand. Except for the economic downturn experienced in 2020 when demand, supply, and reported emissions were at near record lows, historical trends have shown an increasing demand for both transportation fuels and non-transportation products. These historical increases were attributed to economic growth and specifically to increases in the supply of finished motor gasoline to the transportation sector and associated increases in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Consistent with historical years, about 66% of the total finished petroleum products consumed in the United States are used in the transportation sector, and nearly half of those products are motor gasoline. [1] However, in contrast with the historical trends, a sharp decrease in demand for petroleum products was noted in all energy sectors in 2020. [1] A particularly sharp decrease in demand for fuel in the transportation sector resulted in a 15% decrease in 2020 compared with 2019. [1] The Specifically, for transportation fuels these trends have been driven by an increase in demand for finished motor gasoline and aviation related fuels utilized for travel and commerce. Indications of economic recovery are seen in the increase of the supply of finished motor vehicle gasoline for 2020 in 2021, which was recorded as 8,049 816 thousand barrels per day compared to 98,309 049 thousand barrels per day in 20192020 (a 10% increase). [24] The decrease increase in motor vehicle gasoline supply is consistent with the decrease increase in the annual VMT, which decreased increased from 32,260 904 billion VMT in 2019 2020 to 23,830 229 billion VMT in 2020, a 13% decrease2021, an 11% increase. [35]

The emissions reported to subpart MM by importers has remained relatively flat between 2012 and 2020, while emissions from exporters consistently increased over the time series until 2020. In 2020, emissions from exporters decreased by 7% as compared to the 2019 emissions. The lower 2020 emissions from exports is the result of decreased global demand, which was estimated to have decreased by 9% in 2020, for liquid fossil fuels due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4]

The U.S. Energy Information Administration also noted an increase in jet fuel supply and corresponding increase in passengers as reported by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2021 as compared to 2020. [6]

The subpart MM data indicate that the U.S. has consistently, over the past ten years, exported twice the quantity of petroleum products as it has imported. The data also indicate that imports and exports are evenly split between transportation and non-transportation fuel categories. Similar to the trends for petroleum refineries, the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that both imports and exports increased in 2021 as compared to 2020, indicating the beginnings of an economic recovery and an increase in demand for petroleum products domestically and globally. [7]

[1]     U.S. Environmental Production Agency,  What influenced the trend in emissions for refineries?, at: <https://ccdsupport.com/confluence/display/ghgp/Emission+Trends+in+Petroleum+Refineries>

[2]       [1]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Refinery Net Production (accessed September 19, 2022) at: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_refp2_dc_nus_mbbl_a.htm.

[3]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Refinery Net Input (accessed September 28, 2022) at: Today in Energy, August 5, 2021, accessed September 2021, https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_inpt2_dc_nus_mbbl_a.htm.

[4todayinenergy/detail.php?id=49016[2]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Product Supplied of Finished Motor Gasoline, accessed September 20212022, available at https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=mgfupus2&f=a.

[35]     U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Traffic Volume Trends, Series 2012 2011 and 20202021, accessed September 2021, 20212022, available at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/travel_monitoring/tvt.cfm.

[46]     U.S. Energy Administration, Today in Energy, April 29, 2021, accessed September 2022, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47756.

[7]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, Today in Energy, January 29April 12, 20212022, accessed September 20212022, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=4659651998.

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