UK Oil: North Sea Decline & Refinery Closures
United Kingdom consumes about 1.41 million barrels of petroleum per day (2025), #15 among the countries tracked here. The UK gave the world the Brent benchmark from its North Sea fields, but output there has been declining for decades and its refining sector shrank sharply in 2025, leaving the country importing more fuel than ever.
Key Figures
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum consumption (#15 of tracked) | 1.41 Mb/d | 2025 · EIA |
| Refineries left | Four: Fawley, Humber, Pembroke and Stanlow, down from 18 in the 1970s | House of Commons Library, 2025 |
| 2025 closures | Grangemouth closed on 30 June 2025 and Lindsey in August 2025 after its owner Prax Group became insolvent, together about 20% of UK capacity | House of Commons Library / S&P Global |
| Product imports | In 2025 the UK imported 15.5 million tonnes more petroleum products than it exported, the largest gap since it became a net importer in 2013 | UK government data via S&P Global |
| Brent benchmark | Named for a North Sea field, Brent is the price reference for most of the world's traded crude | ICE |
Rankings and comparisons: world production & consumption · reserves by country · biggest oil companies.
The North Sea and the Refining Squeeze
Why refineries closed
- Industry bodies and Parliament's research library point to high energy and carbon costs and weak competitiveness against Middle Eastern and US export refineries.
- With fewer refineries, more gasoline, diesel and jet fuel now arrives by ship, which raises the UK's exposure to disruptions in the import chain.
What to watch
- Whether the remaining four refineries stay open, since further closures would deepen import dependence.
- North Sea licensing and tax policy, which decides how fast the basin's output declines.
- The benchmark itself: see Brent crude and Brent vs WTI.
US Trade with United Kingdom
| Flow | Latest month | Share of US total | vs year ago | Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US crude imports from United Kingdom | 26 kb/d | 0.4% | −13.3% | July 2026 |
| US distillate fuel oil exports to United Kingdom | 129 kb/d | 7.4% | +34.4% | July 2026 |
| US kerosene-type jet fuel exports to United Kingdom | 60 kb/d | 16.3% | — | July 2026 |
EIA monthly trade statistics, thousand barrels a day. Full rankings: US crude imports by country and US fuel exports by country.
Oil Companies Operating in United Kingdom
| Company | Type | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| BP | Integrated major | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. |
| Shell | Integrated major | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. |
| APA Corporation | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. |
| Equinor | National oil company (state-owned or state-controlled) | The Norwegian state owns about 67% of the shares; it is redeemed pro rata in Equinor's buybacks to hold that level. |
From the oil company directory: companies with material producing operations here or headquartered here, hand-curated from company filings.
United Kingdom Oil FAQ
How much oil does United Kingdom consume?
United Kingdom consumes about 1.41 million barrels per day of petroleum and other liquids (2025), ranking #15 among the countries tracked here. Source: EIA international statistics.
Why did UK refineries close?
Grangemouth shut in June 2025 and Lindsey in August 2025. The House of Commons Library and industry bodies cite high energy and carbon costs and competition from larger export refineries elsewhere; Lindsey's owner also became insolvent.
Is the UK an oil importer?
Yes for petroleum products: it imported 15.5 million tonnes more than it exported in 2025. The North Sea still produces crude, but far less than at its peak.
Does the United States import oil from United Kingdom?
Yes. The EIA recorded about 26 thousand barrels a day of US crude imports from United Kingdom in July 2026, 0.4% of the 6,224 thousand b/d the US imported in total, −13.3% on a year earlier.
Does the United States export fuel to United Kingdom?
Yes. In July 2026 the EIA recorded US exports to United Kingdom of about 129 thousand b/d of distillate fuel oil, 60 thousand b/d of kerosene-type jet fuel.
Which oil companies operate in United Kingdom?
The oil company directory lists BP, Shell, APA Corporation, Equinor with producing operations in United Kingdom. See the directory for who owns each company and which basins it works.