Rajan Wilcox
The consumption of motor gasoline and distillate fuel oil in the transportation sector in the United States has been a topic of interest. In 2023, the US transportation sector, which includes public and personal transportation by road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships, consumed around 8.5 million barrels of gasoline per day. This is a considerable amount, but it's important to note that gasoline consumption in the US has fluctuated over the years, with a peak annual average consumption of 9.329 million barrels per day in 2018. The transportation sector relies heavily on petroleum and crude oil, with gasoline being the most popular transportation fuel. Understanding the demand for gasoline and its impact on energy consumption is crucial for energy security and reliability in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of registered vehicles in the United States | 275.9 million |
| Average gallons of fuel used per vehicle per year | 489 gallons |
| Total barrels of fuel used per day in the US | 8.5 million |
| Average miles travelled per day | 32 |
| Number of fill-ups per day | 38.9 million |
| Average gallons of fuel in a barrel | 42 gallons |
| Average gallons of motor gasoline in a barrel | 19-20 gallons |
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline demand in the US
Gasoline is one of the most consumed fuels in the United States, with motor gasoline being the main product that U.S. oil refineries produce. Texas and California have historically accounted for the largest shares of total U.S. motor gasoline consumption. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day) and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline. In 2023, U.S. finished motor gasoline consumption averaged about 8.94 million barrels per day or about 376 million gallons per day. The record-high level of finished motor gasoline consumption was about 392 million gallons per day in 2018.
In 2021, Americans drove an estimated 3.2 trillion miles on roads and highways, with Americans travelling 8.834 billion miles per day that year, an increase of 8.2% from 2020. In 2021, 8.79 million barrels per day of gasoline were sold. U.S. gasoline demand peaked in 2018 at an annual average consumption of 9.329 million barrels per day.
The United States consumed an average of about 20.25 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2023, or a total of about 7.39 billion barrels of petroleum. Consumption has risen fairly steadily overall, with notable drops following the oil price shocks and supply or demand disruptions of 1974, 1979, 2008, and 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused consumption to dip to its lowest level since 1996.
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Miles travelled by Americans
The US consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2016. That same year, motor gasoline consumption averaged about 9.3 million barrels per day. In 2018, US gasoline demand peaked at an annual average consumption of 9.329 million barrels per day. In 2020, during the pandemic, consumption dropped to an annual average of 8.049 million barrels per day. In 2021, 8.79 million barrels per day of gasoline were sold. This is expected to increase to 8.9 million barrels per day in 2022 and 2023.
Americans travelled 8.834 billion miles per day in 2021, up 8.2% from 2020. They are expected to travel 9.117 billion miles per day in 2022. With 275.9 million registered vehicles in the United States, the average vehicle travels approximately 32 miles per day. In 2022, cars, trucks, and motorcycles travelled around 4.3 trillion passenger miles.
While the number of miles travelled by Americans in airplanes has risen sharply since 1960, train travel has remained almost stagnant. This is likely due to high prices, slow connections, and too few trains on the Amtrak network. One exception to this is the California Zephyr, a 2000-mile train journey from Chicago to San Francisco.
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Gasoline price considerations
Gasoline prices are influenced by a variety of factors, which can be broadly categorised into supply-side factors and demand-side factors.
Supply-side factors
The primary determinant of gasoline prices is the cost of crude oil, which accounts for the largest component of the retail price of gasoline. The price of crude oil is influenced by market forces of supply and demand, with higher demand and lower supply leading to higher prices. Crude oil prices are also impacted by geopolitical factors, global market fundamentals, seasonality, financial market considerations, and expectations.
The supply of gasoline is driven by crude oil supply and refining, gasoline imports, and gasoline inventories (stocks). Stocks act as a buffer between short-term supply and demand imbalances, and inventory levels can significantly impact gasoline prices. Refinery or pipeline problems, or low imports, can cause unexpected declines in supply, leading to rapid drops in inventories and upward pressure on prices.
Refining costs vary seasonally and by region, with different formulations required to reduce air pollution in different areas. Summer blends tend to be more expensive due to the need for less evaporative but more expensive components. The cost of other ingredients blended into gasoline, such as ethanol, can also impact prices.
Demand-side factors
Gasoline demand typically increases during the summer, particularly in the spring and late summer, as people drive more frequently. This increase in demand generally results in higher prices.
Retail outlets set prices based on local market conditions, such as the fueling location and marketing strategy. The cost of doing business for gasoline retailers can vary depending on location, including factors such as wages, rent, and sources of supply.
Other considerations
Federal, state, and local government taxes also contribute to the retail price of gasoline. These include the federal excise tax, state gasoline fees and taxes, and sales taxes applied by local and municipal governments.
The octane level of gasoline also affects pricing, with higher-octane fuel being more expensive due to its higher resistance to combustion.
Distribution and marketing costs are included in the retail price of gasoline, and these can vary depending on the mode of transportation used to deliver the gasoline from refineries to terminals and then to individual stations.
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Crude oil barrel contents
A 42-US-gallon barrel of crude oil, also known as petroleum, is a mixture of hydrocarbons (50-97%), organic compounds (6-10%), and small amounts of metal (less than 1%). Crude oil is a fossil fuel that is the natural byproduct of decaying prehistoric plants and animals. The refining process of crude oil yields a diverse array of products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, asphalt, lubricants, and thousands of other products.
Gasoline, one of the most important refined products derived from crude oil, accounts for 20 gallons or 45% of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels. It is primarily used as fuel for vehicles but also for boats, power tools, and small engines. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and heating oil together make up 12 gallons of a refined barrel, with ULSD accounting for 11 gallons or 25% of the finished product. Kerosene, used in heaters, lamps, cooking stoves, and water heaters, makes up about 4 gallons or 9% of the refined products.
Residual fuel, a classification for fuel oils that remain after refining, accounts for a small portion of a barrel, about 1 gallon or 2%. Hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL) typically make up approximately 2 gallons or 4% of refined products and are used as feedstock for chemicals, plastics, synthetic rubber, and fuel for heating, cooking, and transportation.
The United States consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2016, with motor gasoline consumption averaging about 9.3 million barrels per day. In 2021, with 275.9 million registered vehicles, 8.79 million barrels per day of gasoline were sold. U.S. gasoline demand peaked in 2018 at an annual average consumption of 9.329 million barrels per day.
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Gasoline consumption in the transportation sector
Gasoline is one of the most important refined products derived from crude oil in the US. It accounts for 20 gallons, or 45%, of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels. In 2023, gasoline consumption in the US transportation sector amounted to around 8.5 million barrels per day. This is a slight increase from 2022, when gasoline consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 52% of total energy consumption. The US consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2016, with motor gasoline consumption averaging about 9.3 million barrels per day.
The transportation sector, which includes public and personal transportation by road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships, is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the US. Gasoline is the dominant transportation fuel in the country, followed by distillate fuels (mostly diesel fuel) and jet fuel. In 2022, biofuels consumption accounted for about 6% of total US transportation sector energy consumption, with ethanol and biodiesel blends being some of the first automobile fuels.
The US was the world's largest transportation energy consumer in 2012, the most recent year with detailed international transportation data by mode. That year, the US consumed 13 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, representing 25% of global transportation energy demand. Major European countries (those in the OECD) and China are also major transportation energy consumers, at 19 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and 13 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, respectively.
The Energy Information Administration has released data showing that the transportation of people and goods accounts for about 25% of all energy consumption in the world. Passenger transportation, in particular light-duty vehicles, accounts for most transportation energy consumption. Light-duty vehicles alone consume more than all freight modes of transportation, such as heavy trucks, marine, and rail.
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Frequently asked questions
The US consumed approximately 19.7 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2016. In 2021, 8.79 million barrels of gasoline were sold per day.
A 42-gallon crude oil barrel contains approximately 45 gallons of salable refined crude oil products.
Gasoline accounts for 20 gallons, or 45%, of a 45-gallon barrel of refined fuels.
