Surge In World Petroleum Use Despite North American Drop

Katie Colaneri

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Katie Colaneri is a reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania and WHYY in Philadelphia covering energy and the environment. Before joining StateImpact, Katie worked as an investigative and enterprise reporter at WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. She covered some of New Jersey's biggest stories including the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, as well as the day-to-day triumphs and struggles to revitalize state's largest city. A native of New Jersey with roots in South Central Pennsylvania, Katie holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

August 26, 2013 | 2:31 PM

Worldwide consumption of petroleum has reached an all-time high of nearly 89 million barrels a day, according to an analysis by the Energy Information Administration.
That’s despite an overall decrease in North American petroleum use since 2005 and a surge in consumption from rapidly developing Asian countries like China and India.

Asia has become the world’s largest consumer of petroleum products like gasoline, heating oil and jet fuel.
In the meantime, the EIA credits the American economic downturn in 2008 and 2009, as well as stricter fuel economy standards combined with less highway driving with reducing petroleum use in North America.