An Indian Oil petrol pump in Kolkata, India
India to help Asia spearhead global refining
Shifting demand patterns leaves most populous nation primed to become downstream leader as China and the West retreat
India will help Asia lead growth in the global oil refining sector on the back of persistent fuel demand momentum, although expansion will be patchy among markets in the region, while China and developed economies will accelerate closures in response to slowing oil consumption as the energy transition advances. Global crude distillation unit (CDU) capacity is projected to grow by 1.55m b/d in 2025 based on 20 individual projects tracked by industry consultancies and research firms. This is roughly 30% lower than last year’s growth, which was bolstered by the startup of mega-refineries such as Nigeria’s 650,000b/d Dangote project, the 400,000b/d Yulong complex in China and Mexico’s 340,000b/d
Also in this section
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
