US replacement Norway as the most important oil supplier in Belgium
© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
The United States has narrowly become our most important source for petroleum, according to the youngest figures from Energia, the mouthpiece of the petroleum sector.
Since the beginning of December 2022, a European embargo has been in force on Russian oil. As a result, the input of oil from Russia has stopped. In 2022, Russia was still our largest supplier, good for 22 percent of our supply.
The first place in Russia was initially taken by Norway, last year accounting for 5,537 million tons and a market share of 18 percent. But what is striking is the strong advance of the US. In 2024 they performed 5,641 million tons of oil to the Belgian refineries, so narrowly than Norway. Their market share increased from 13 percent in 2023 to 18 percent last year.
Sector organization Energia refers as an explanation to the rise in oil production in the US, so there is more room for export. In addition, there is also « a strong bond with that country », it sounds on Wednesday, because Belgium leads finished products such as gasoline to the US.
Kazakhstan
In the third place of oil suppliers, Kazakhstan, with a share of 12 percent, accounts for 3.67 million tons. The Middle East drops further, with a share of 10 percent.
The increased diversification proves that the Belgian refineries can be flexible, says Energia. The sector organization also points out that those refineries are running at full speed: the capacity is used for 94 percent, which is much more than the European average of 79 percent. Diesel and fuel oil (45 percent) are mainly produced, « essential for freight transport ». The Belgian refineries export more than domestic consumption, which in turn is good for the energy supply of our country. « It would be good to acknowledge them as a strategic sector, » said Wim de Wulf from Energia.
