The Largest Bitumen Refineries In The World: Top 20 Refineries + Comparison
Do you know which are the largest bitumen refineries in the world? Jamnagar in India, Paraguaná in Venezuela, Ulsan in South Korea, and Port Arthur in the United States rank among the biggest refineries that produce this highly valuable material for road construction and building industries.
Therefore, if you trade bitumen or want to invest in this sector, you should know which countries hold the largest share of the global bitumen-export market and which refineries produce the most.
Therefore, in this article from the Iran ETrade blog, the specialized source for bitumen and petroleum-product price information, we will introduce the world’s largest bitumen refineries.
Which Are The Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World?
The largest bitumen refineries in the world operate in different countries and include the following:
The world’s largest bitumen refineries are located in countries such as India, Venezuela, South Korea, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. These refineries play a major role in supplying global bitumen for the road-construction and building industries. For instance, India’s Jamnagar Refinery, with a capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day, ranks as the largest bitumen refinery in the world. After that, the Paraguaná, Ulsan, and Port Arthur refineries are the largest bitumen refineries. In addition, the United States, China, Russia, Canada, Iran, and Saudi Arabia count among the most important bitumen producers and exporters in the world. Iran also holds a significant position in the global bitumen market by producing about six million tons annually.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 1. Jamnagar Refinery in India
The Jamnagar Refinery, located in the state of Gujarat, India, operates as the largest private refinery in the world. Jamnagar produces 1.24 million barrels of bitumen, which is almost one-quarter of India’s total refining capacity.
As one of the largest bitumen refineries in the world, Jamnagar not only exports bitumen but also produces the feedstock required by India’s petrochemical industry.
2. Paraguaná Refining Complex in Venezuela
The Paraguaná Refining Complex in Venezuela ranks as the second-largest refinery in the world, with production capacity of 955,000 barrels per day. Built and expanded gradually since 1949, this complex supplies more than half of Venezuela’s petroleum needs.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 3. Ulsan Refinery in South Korea
The Ulsan Refinery in South Korea is the world’s third-largest refinery, with a daily production of 840,000 bitumen barrels.
The Ulsan Complex, one of the world’s largest bitumen refineries, has five distillation units, a paraxylene unit, and 34 large storage tanks. Therefore, Ulsan has a large capacity for storing crude oil and petroleum products.
4. Yeosu Refinery in South Korea
The Yeosu Refinery in Jeolla Province, South Korea, operates as one of the largest bitumen refineries in the world. Yeosu has a daily production capacity of 775,000 barrels, and its first unit began operating in 1969.
The refinery’s second unit also started to operate in 2007, and the company S-Oil is one of its main shareholders.
5. Onsan Refinery in South Korea
The Onsan Refinery in South Korea is the fifth-largest bitumen refinery in the world. Founded in 1969 by the holding companies of GS Caltex and Chevron, Onsan also owns a large hydrocracker plant to convert heavy materials into high-value products.
With two integrated refining and petrochemical complexes, this refinery simultaneously produces both petroleum and petrochemical products.
6. Port Arthur Refinery in the United States
The Port Arthur Refinery in Texas, USA, ranks as the sixth-largest bitumen refinery in the world, with a daily production of 600,000 barrels and is located along the Gulf of Mexico.
Founded in 1903, Port Arthur refinery has played a significant role in history by producing high-octane gasoline and aviation fuel, especially during World War II.
7. ExxonMobil Refinery in the United States
ExxonMobil in the United States stands as one of the pioneers in the global oil industry and one of the largest bitumen refineries in the world. By developing innovative technologies, this company has played a key role in improving the quality of fuel and engine oil.
ExxonMobil’s most significant achievements include producing iso-octane, Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil, gasoline with cleaning additives, and fuel-finishing technologies, all of which have had a notable impact on oil consumers and the fuel industry.
8. Bataan Refinery in the United States One of the Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World
The Bataan Refinery in Texas, USA, is owned by ExxonMobil and produces 584,000 barrels per day. These barrels include both petroleum and petrochemical products.
9. Ras Tanura Refinery in the Persian Gulf
The Ras Tanura Refinery, located along the Persian Gulf, is the ninth-largest bitumen refinery in the world, with a daily production capacity of 550,000 barrels. Owned by Aramco, this refinery was founded in 1945 and primarily supplies its products to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
10. Garyville Refinery in the United States One of the Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World
The Garyville Refinery in Louisiana, USA, ranks as the tenth among the largest bitumen refineries in the world and the third-largest in the United States.
Recognised as one of the largest bitumen refineries globally, it operates with a daily production of 522,000 barrels, and its shares belong to Marathon Petroleum.
11. Rosneft in Germany (ROSNEFT)
The Rosneft refinery is Germany’s third-largest bitumen refinery, producing 12.5 million tons of crude oil annually. The company also supplies various petrochemical products and bitumen grades 50/70 and 70/100.
Responding to Europe’s high demand for polymer-modified bitumen, Rosneft has started producing different grades of this product. Therefore, since 2019, it has served as one of the main bitumen suppliers to several European countries.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 12. Spanish Oil Company CEPSA
CEPSA, based in Spain, operates another one of the world’s largest bitumen refineries, with its headquarters located in Madrid.
With over 80 years of experience, the company not only works in the oil and petrochemical sectors, but also specialises in producing bitumen emulsion and polymer-modified bitumen.
13. MOL Group in Hungary (MOL GROUP)
The MOL Group from Hungary has over 30 years of experience in the bitumen market, and its headquarters is located in Budapest.
The company supplies its bitumen to neighboring countries such as Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and Austria. Furthermore, it has become well known for producing rubberised bitumen and bitumen emulsion.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 14. NIS Group in Serbia (NIS GROUP)
NIS Group from Serbia has a long history in exploring, producing, and refining crude oil, and it has expanded its operations throughout the Balkan region.
As one of the largest bitumen refineries in the world, the company has gained particular recognition for producing polymer-modified and penetration-grade bitumen in accordance with European standards. Also, its bitumen products are highly popular in European countries.
15. Infinity Galaxy in the UAE (Infinity Galaxy)
Based in Dubai, Infinity Galaxy is an experienced bitumen supplier in the markets of East Asia, India, and Africa, and over its 10 years of operation, the company has earned a reputation as a reliable and committed partner.
By offering high-quality bitumen at competitive prices, Infinity Galaxy provides consulting and procurement services to its clients.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 16. Shell plc in the United Kingdom
Shell plc is a British multinational company and one of the world’s largest bitumen refineries. This company’s main headquarters are in London, and it operates in the energy and petrochemical sectors.
Shell plc conducts operations in over 70 countries, actively exploring, producing, refining, and distributing oil, gas, and renewable energy.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 17. TotalEnergies in France
The TotalEnergies company, founded in 1924 in France, stands as one of the leading companies in the energy sector. By operating in oil, gas, electricity, and renewable energy sectors, TotalEnergies plays a significant role in the global market.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 18. BP (British Petroleum)
British Petroleum (BP) was founded in 1908 under the name “Anglo-Persian Oil Company” and initially operated to develop Iran’s oil resources.
In the following decades, the company expanded its operations in exploration, production, refining, and distribution of oil and gas, becoming one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Therefore, it has a place amongst the largest bitumen refineries in the world.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 19. PetroChina
The PetroChina company, founded in 1999, is the largest oil and gas producer and seller in China and one of the largest oil companies in the world.
The company engages in exploration, production, refining, and marketing of oil and gas, as well as petrochemical products and renewable energy. It also lists its shares on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges.
Largest Bitumen Refineries in the World: 20. Petro Naft Iran
Petro Naft is one of the world’s largest bitumen refineries and in the Persian Gulf region, maintaining a strong presence in international markets.
As one of the most reputable bitumen refineries in Iran, the company leverages advanced technologies and an extensive network of partnerships. It also values transparency, honesty, and mutual trust to provide engineering services, operational support, and fulfilment of its clients’ objectives.
Top Bitumen Exporters: The Countries That Dominate the Global Market
In the previous section, we discussed where the largest bitumen refineries in the world are located and named them. Now, we want to see which countries lead in bitumen production.
| Country | Description |
|---|---|
| Canada | Canada, with its vast oil sands, stands as one of the world’s main bitumen producers, generating significant volumes of bitumen for various applications through extraction and upgrading processes. |
| Russia | Russia possesses extensive oil reserves and advanced refineries, facilitating the supply of bitumen to European and Asian markets. |
| China | Rapid infrastructure growth and construction in China have increased domestic demand for bitumen, making the country one of the largest producers of this material in the world. |
| United States | The United States, with its large oil refineries and natural bitumen reserves, ranks among the world’s main bitumen producers, primarily using it to meet domestic demand in road construction. |
| Iran | Iran, with vast oil reserves and strong refining infrastructure, is a major bitumen producer and exporter in the Middle East, focusing on quality and competitive pricing. |
| India | India, through its growing oil refining industry and extensive infrastructure projects, is an important bitumen producer, with refineries in Gujarat and Maharashtra playing a key role in meeting domestic demand. |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia, with vast oil reserves and advanced refineries, ranks among the world’s largest bitumen producers, supplying products for both domestic use and export. |
| Singapore | Singapore’s history of using bitumen dates back to the 14th century when it served as a regional trade hub and used bitumen in construction and insulation. Bitumen production in Singapore involves complex processes such as atmospheric distillation, vacuum distillation, and oxidation, giving it desirable physical and chemical properties. |
| South Korea | South Korea’s bitumen production and use date back to the post-World War II period. By developing advanced technologies and utilizing both domestic and imported resources, the country has become one of the world’s top bitumen producers, including bitumen emulsion. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding the world’s largest bitumen refineries, you might have the following questions:
Where Is the World’s Largest Refinery?
The Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat, India, is number one in the largest bitumen refineries in the world, with a crude oil refining capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day.
What Is the World’s Largest Bitumen Refinery?
The Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat, India, is the world’s largest bitumen refinery. With a daily crude oil refining capacity of 1.24 million barrels, it supplies a significant share of the world’s bitumen and other petroleum products.
What Is the Largest Refinery in the Middle East?
The Ras Tanura Refinery in Saudi Arabia is the largest refinery in the Middle East. With a daily production of almost 550,000 barrels, it plays a key role in supplying bitumen and other petroleum products in the region.
Which Countries Are the Top Bitumen Producers in the World?
The United States, China, Canada, and Russia have the largest bitumen refineries in the world. With high refining capacities and advanced infrastructure, they supply bitumen to both domestic and international markets.
Which Countries Are the Largest Bitumen Importers in the World?
The United States, China, and India are among the largest bitumen importers in the world. With high demand for infrastructure and construction projects, these countries hold a major share of the global bitumen market.
Where Is the World’s Largest Gas Refinery?
The Aramco Refinery in Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest gas refinery, with vast energy and oil reserves.
How Much Bitumen Does Iran Produce?
Iran produces approximately 6 million tons of bitumen annually, of which 2 million tons are for domestic consumption and 4 million tons are exported to various countries. With its high production capacity and quality, Iran ranks among the countries with the largest bitumen refineries in the world.
source: mordorintelligence
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