India to help Asia spearhead global refining
Shifting demand patterns leaves most populous nation primed to become downstream leader as China and the West retreat
India will help Asia lead growth in the global oil refining sector on the back of persistent fuel demand momentum, although expansion will be patchy among markets in the region, while China and developed economies will accelerate closures in response to slowing oil consumption as the energy transition advances. Global crude distillation unit (CDU) capacity is projected to grow by 1.55m b/d in 2025 based on 20 individual projects tracked by industry consultancies and research firms. This is roughly 30% lower than last year’s growth, which was bolstered by the startup of mega-refineries such as Nigeria’s 650,000b/d Dangote project, the 400,000b/d Yulong complex in China and Mexico’s 340,000b/d
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny






