Asia expected to dominate refinery FCCU capacity by 2027

Asia is expected to witness the highest refinery fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) capacity additions globally between 2023 and 2027, contributing about 58% of the total capacity additions by 2027, says data and analytics company GlobalData.

GlobalData’s latest report reveals that Asia is expected to witness a total FCCU capacity addition of 1.82-million barrels a day. Of this, 1.42-million barrels a day are likely to be from new-build refineries, while the rest will be from the expansion of existing refineries.

The ‘Refinery Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecast by Region and Countries Including Details of All Active Plants, Planned and Announced Projects, 2023-2027’ report was released in July.

“In Asia, China is expected to add the highest capacity addition of 513 000 bbl/d from seven refineries [between] 2023 and 2027. India follows next with 388 000 bbl/d of capacity additions during the same period,” says GlobalData oil and gas analyst Himani Pant Pandey.

He explains that the Vadinar refinery, located in India, is the largest upcoming FCCU project in the region and is likely to add a capacity of 187 000 bbl/d in 2024.

The Vadinar refinery is operated by petroleum company Nayara Energy. The company is expanding the FCCU as part of the company’s plans to diversify its petrochemicals portfolio and meet the growing demand for polypropylene in India.

GlobalData reveals that the Middle East is another significant contributor to the global FCCU capacity additions, accounting for 16.8% of the total additions by 2027. Iraq is likely to account for most of the capacity additions of 308 000 bbl/d of capacity expected to be added by 2027.

“Africa follows the Middle East (16.7%) closely in terms of global FCCU capacity additions,” Pandey adds.

The Lagos I refinery expansion is expected to add the highest FCCU capacity addition of 163 000 bbl/d in the region by 2027. Akwa Ibom III, Port Sudan III, and Lobito are the major upcoming projects, with 50 000 bbl/d of FCCU capacity expected to be added at each of the refineries during 2023 and 2027 period, he concludes.