Indonesia tipped to lead global gasoline market
Indonesia is predicted to lead the global gasoline trade by 2018, opening up new supply opportunities for European and US refiners
A new report from Wood Mackenzie shows that Indonesia will emerge as the world's biggest importer of gasoline as US and Mexican imports - markets with the largest combined deficit over the last decade - shrink. From 2012 to 2018, Indonesia's gasoline deficit will expand from 340,000 barrels per day (b/d) to around 420,000 b/d, data from the energy research firm shows. At the same time, the US and Mexico's combined deficit will narrow from 560,000 b/d to 60,000 b/d, with a surplus expected in the following years. By 2018, the Asia Pacific region's surplus will shift from 55,000 b/d in 2012 to a deficit of 118,000 b/d, bolstered by rising consumption in Indonesia. Demand in the Southeast Asian
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
