Oman’s refinery output declined 5.1 per cent in the first half of 2026, with total production reaching 108.85 million barrels by the end of June, compared with 114.66 million barrels during the same period in 2025, according to preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Total motor fuel production fell 1.5 per cent, reflecting declines in several key products. Regular 91-octane petrol production dropped 4.7 per cent to 8.25 million barrels, while sales fell 13.3 per cent to 7.86 million barrels.

However, exports of regular petrol increased 4.2 per cent to 1.88 million barrels.

Premium 95-octane petrol was one of the few fuels to record higher production, rising 2.6 per cent to 6.89 million barrels.

Despite the increase, domestic sales declined 13.6 per cent to 7.37 million barrels, while exports fell 3.5 per cent to 362,900 barrels.

Diesel production recorded a sharper decline, falling 7.5 per cent to 36.53 million barrels.

Sales dropped 6.1 per cent to 9.93 million barrels, while exports decreased 12.9 per cent to 27.91 million barrels.

Jet fuel production provided a notable bright spot, increasing 9.2 per cent to 14.06 million barrels.

Domestic sales, however, fell 14.3 per cent to 2.12 million barrels, while exports surged 20.9 per cent to 11.71 million barrels.

LPG production declined 4.6 per cent to 5.45 million barrels, with sales falling 22.2 per cent to 1.52 million barrels.

Exports edged up 1.7 per cent to 1.71 million barrels.

Naphtha was another product to record growth. Production rose 3.5 per cent to 19.01 million barrels, while sales increased 4.5 per cent to 7.10 million barrels.

Exports also edged higher, rising 0.8 per cent to 12.04 million barrels.

Production of other refinery products fell sharply by 18.3 per cent to 18.67 million barrels.

Sales declined 27.1 per cent to 14.89 million barrels, although exports increased 9.1 per cent to 5.17 million barrels.

The petrochemicals sector recorded mixed results. Benzene production increased 12.9 per cent to 97,100 metric tonnes, while exports rose 16.6 per cent to 95,500 tonnes.

Paraxylene production climbed 14 per cent to 322,600 tonnes, with exports increasing 6.1 per cent to 331,700 tonnes.

Polypropylene, by contrast, experienced a significant production decline of 29.4 per cent, falling to 124,600 tonnes from 176,600 tonnes a year earlier.

Despite lower output, domestic sales increased 32.6 per cent to 20,500 tonnes. Exports fell 26 per cent to 97,000 tonnes.

Overall, the first-half figures point to weaker refinery production and domestic fuel sales across several major products, while export performance varied.

Growth in jet fuel and naphtha exports, along with stronger benzene and paraxylene output, provided some support amid broader declines in refinery and polypropylene production. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service