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Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
For more information on this release:
E-mail: environment@cso.ie Paul McElvaney Dimitri Cernize Gerry Brady 01 4984201
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Fuel Excise Clearances

April 2020

Million litres
PeriodAutodieselUnleaded PetrolMarked Gas OilKerosene
April 20162871168785
April 20172761028363
April 2018293928673
April 2019312919280
April 202013925101143
April 2020/2019 % Change -55.2%-72.0%10.0%79.7%

Autodiesel clearances were down 55% in April while kerosene clearances were up 80%

Figure 1: Fuel Excise Clearances April 2018-2020
go to full release

The volume of excise clearances of autodiesel was 55.2% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019 (see Table 1A and headline table). The April figure for autodiesel of 139 million litres was the lowest monthly excise clearance figure in the 2000-2020 series.

There was a sharper decrease in clearances of unleaded petrol of 72.0% in April 2020, compared with April 2019, reflecting that its main use is for private transport.

In contrast, clearances of kerosene (mainly used as a heating fuel) in April 2020 were 79.7% higher than in April 2019 (see Table 1D and headline table). Excise clearances of marked gas oil were 10.0% higher in April 2020 compared with April 2019. Marked gas oil is used for off-road purposes, such as agriculture and heating of larger buildings. People staying at home more was likely to be a factor in these increases but Tables 3C and 3D show that there were probably other factors involved such as the large decreases in March and April 2020 in the Wholesale Price Index for gas oil and fuel oil.

Table 2 and Figure 6 show trends in the annual clearance volumes. The volume of autodiesel clearances was 2.0 billion litres in 2000. Clearances of unleaded petrol in 2000 were at the same level as autodiesel i.e. at 2.0 billion litres. However, since then there has been almost a doubling of the quantity of autodiesel and a halving of unleaded petrol. Autodiesel clearances increased to 3.0 billion in 2007 before decreasing to 2.5 billion litres in 2012. Since then it has increased to a record high level of 3.7 billion litres in 2019. Unleaded petrol clearances increased to 2.4 billion litres in 2007. They have dropped continuously since then, largely due to changes in the vehicle taxation system which resulted in a substantial switch to diesel cars. In 2019 clearances of unleaded petrol were 1.0 billion litres. Figure 6 shows the annual time series trend for the four fuels for 2000 to 2019.

Annual clearances of marked gas oil were 1.6 billion litres in 2000. This amount decreased to 1.0 billion litres in 2014 and was 1.1 billion litres in 2019. Clearances of kerosene were 0.8 billion litres in 2000. This amount increased to 1.3 billion litres in 2010 before falling to 0.9 billion in 2012. It has increased by 9.5% since then to 1.1 billion litres in 2019.

Table 4 and Figure 8 show trends in the monthly mean temperature at Dublin Airport. The graph shows that there were two cold spells in January 2010, when the average temperature for the month was 1.7 degrees centigrade, and in December 2010, when the mean temperature was -0.1 degrees. Table 1D indicates the impact of these cold spells on clearances of kerosene, with February 2010 showing the highest February figure in the 2000-2020 series. November and December 2010 were also the highest monthly figures for those months in the 2000-2019 series.

The data used in this statistical release mainly relate to Revenue Commissioners monthly excise clearance volumes. Clearances reflect the duty paid amounts of oil removed from tax warehouses. The use of transport fuels such as autodiesel and unleaded petrol are less seasonal than the use of home heating fuels. Price changes, exceptionally cold weather, and storage capacity (home heating oil tanks) can all combine to create marked variations in the monthly clearances. Levels of activity in the economy and changes in the vehicle fleet composition can affect the volume of clearances of road fuels.            

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
February208198199212233265264277281295
March217216225238256279305292308281
April213206224239259287276293312139
2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
February14713511911110910893867877
March160150136127119116109888868
April159138132128123116102929125
2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
February101918971918675868182
March106102102878290899585112
April88104101908187838692101
2011201220132014201520162017201820192020
February1259498108124144145155100137
March87671188486112101198100186
April398677535485637380143
AutodieselUnleaded PetrolMarked Gas OilKerosene
20001.9921.9541.5960.789
20012.152.0441.630.95
20022.2632.121.5470.939
20032.2992.1141.5650.983
20042.4442.1881.5811.053
20052.5962.2641.6451.081
20062.8362.331.6531.126
20073.0252.3771.5921.124
20082.962.311.5031.202
20092.7142.1171.2741.253
20102.561.931.2261.329
20112.5631.8291.1551.051
20122.5481.6681.1260.898
20132.6761.5681.1020.906
20142.8471.4830.9980.857
20153.1061.4161.0141.015
20163.331.3351.0441.05
20173.5711.251.0551.089
20183.5891.0981.0871.149
20193.6791.0431.0931.068
PetrolAutodieselGas oil (other than autodiesel)Fuel oil
January 201093.594.391.497
February 201093.794.190.797.1
March 20109898.296.9101.2
April 201097.899.397.6102.2
May 201098.4100.4102.6107.9
June 201098100.1102.6107.2
July 201096.999.5100.7106.9
August 201096.599.2100.1106.6
September 201097.6100.6101.7106.8
October 201097100100.7105.8
November 201098.2102.2103.7107.7
December 2010102.4105.1105.3108.3
January 2011103.8107.1109.1111.9
February 2011103.3108.3109.7112.4
March 2011107111.5114.2118.7
April 2011108.5111.9115.3121.3
May 2011108.2108.8110.9116.8
June 2011106.6110.3113119.2
July 2011108.3111.2114.4120.9
August 2011105.3108.2110.4116
September 2011107.8110.8113.7119.1
October 2011106.6110.9113.2119.6
November 2011105.9113.6117.3122.5
December 2011106.7112.6115.8121.9
January 2012109.2115.9119.7126.2
February 2012110.5114.9119.4126.3
March 2012114117121.4129.6
April 2012114.9115.9119.9128.3
May 2012111.1114.5119.3126.1
June 2012108.5111.3115122.2
July 2012110.8114117.8124.4
August 2012114.6117.6122.2130
September 2012113.9117.7123.6130.1
October 2012113.9118.1124.5126.4
November 2012109.7115.1120.3123
December 2012108.2113.1118.5120.9
January 2013109.5114.2119.3123.1
February 2013111.8115.7122.3125.9
March 2013109.8114118.9122.8
April 2013108.6111.7116.1120.3
May 2013108.7111.5116120.6
June 2013108.6111.4115.8120.4
July 2013111.1113.3118.6121.4
August 2013110.4113118.3120.7
September 2013108.6114.3119.7121.9
October 2013107.4112.5117.7119.9
November 2013107111.2116.4118.9
December 2013106.1111.4116.5119.4
January 2014106.6110.7115.9118.1
February 2014107.6111.4116.7120.6
March 2014107109.7114.3119.2
April 2014108.7110.6115.2119.6
May 2014108.2110.5115.7119.9
June 2014110.1111.2116.3121.5
July 2014110110.7115.8120.7
August 2014107.8110.6115.6118
September 2014108.1110.1114.9117.9
October 2014105.5108111.4113.9
November 2014103.3106.9109.5110.1
December 201496.7101.1101.7102.4
January 201593.396.795.295.8
February 201598.6102103.6103.8
March 2015102103104.1103.6
April 2015102.5102.9104.9105.7
May 2015104104.6107.5108
June 2015105.8103.9105.9106.3
July 2015105.8101.9102.8103.3
August 2015101.198.998.497.5
September 201597.698.29795.2
October 201596.797.896.596.2
November 201597.197.896.595.6
December 201595.492.487.788.9
January 201693.290.185.185.3
February 201690.889.18485.5
March 201694.293.790.490.6
April 201696.893.790.891.4
May 201697.495.593.894.2
June 20169897.796.797.4
July 201696.596.495.397.1
August 201695.195.393.496.2
September 201696.696.494.797.8
October 201697.999.698.6101.5
November 201695.4979597.9
December 201699.5101.8101.8105.3
January 2017101.7102101.8107.3
February 2017102.4102102.4106.1
March 201799.610099.4102.6
April 2017102.6102.2102.7106.5
May 2017100.399.298.2102.8
June 201798.897.495.7101.1
July 201798.69896.1100.6
August 201799.49997.3101.1
September 2017100.4100.6100.7103.5
October 201799.3100.8100.1104
November 2017101.6102.3103.8107.6
December 2017101102.6103.7106.1
January 2018101.9104106.3109
February 201899.8100.5101.1104.8
March 201899.8101.2102105.4
April 2018103.1104.4105.4109.3
May 2018106107.4109.1113.9
June 2018105.6107.2108.8113.7
July 2018105.7106.7108113.4
August 2018106.6107.6109.6113.9
September 2018106.4108.7110.7114.8
October 2018105.5111.4113.5118.1
November 2018103109.9109.9114.2
December 201899.9105103.9108.4
January 2019100.1105104.2108.5
February 2019101106.5106.9111.6
March 2019102.6106.7107.4112.8
April 2019107.3107.7109.2113.6
May 2019107.7108.2109.4113.8
June 2019103.5104.2104.1109.5
July 2019106.6106.7107.4114.1
August 2019104.1105.5105.5110.2
September 2019103.1106.8106.9110.6
October 2019104.3107.9107110.7
November 2019105.1107.7106.8110.7
December 2019105108107110.4
January 2020105.7108.5106.5110.2
February 2020103.7105.5102.9107
March 20209396.790.396.7
April 202089.193.285.488
X-axis labelMonthly Mean Temperature
January 20101.7
February 20102.3
March 20104.9
April 20107.7
May 20109.6
June 201014.1
July 201016
August 201013.9
September 201013.1
October 201010.1
November 20105.2
December 2010-0.1
January 20113.6
February 20117
March 20115.8
April 201110.1
May 201111.4
June 201112
July 201113.8
August 201113.5
September 201114
October 201111.8
November 20119.7
December 20115.8
January 20126.1
February 20126.6
March 20128
April 20126.6
May 20129.8
June 201212.7
July 201214
August 201215.3
September 201212
October 20128.4
November 20126.4
December 20125.4
January 20134.9
February 20134.2
March 20133.1
April 20136.8
May 201310
June 201312.7
July 201316.7
August 201315.6
September 201313
October 201311.7
November 20136.3
December 20136.9
January 20145.7
February 20145.6
March 20146.8
April 20148.9
May 201411.3
June 201413.6
July 201415.8
August 201413.9
September 201413.1
October 201410.9
November 20147.7
December 20145.4
January 20154.7
February 20154
March 20155.8
April 20157.4
May 20159.6
June 201512.9
July 201513.8
August 201514
September 201511.8
October 201510.2
November 20158.7
December 20158.6
January 20165.7
February 20164.4
March 20165.9
April 20166.2
May 201611.1
June 201614
July 201615.7
August 201615.4
September 201614.3
October 201610.4
November 20165.6
December 20166.7
January 20175.7
February 20176.2
March 20177.7
April 20178
May 201711.6
June 201714.4
July 201715
August 201714.6
September 201712.4
October 201711.2
November 20176.5
December 20175.3
January 20185.3
February 20183.4
March 20184.3
April 20188.1
May 201811.4
June 201814.5
July 201816.1
August 201815.3
September 201812.2
October 20189.3
November 20188.2
December 20187.7
January 20195.1
February 20197
March 20197.3
April 20198
May 201910.2
June 201912.5
July 201915.9
August 201915.4
September 201913
October 20199.1
November 20196
December 20195.9
January 20206.3
Table 1A Monthly Excise Clearances of Autodiesel (Million litres) April 2020
Million litres
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
2000178161175158178173160175179165175115
2001198164178170188174181182182188192153
2002211178187189199176198192195200199139
2003219180190187200187200183202213197140
2004233186218208209204210205212213213133
2005253198223218221227209233226211232142
2006288221246231248243229239236249257150
2007313237258243277253252259249281264139
2008322254241279257235243240248260234147
2009290208238227230225244214241230217150
2010249203230224212224215219225222231105
2011271208217213216214211226211214226137
2012296198216206225199211221210226224117
2013290199225224240212229234221239233130
2014311212238239249227246238247255236148
2015329233256259264259273263270277260165
2016353265279287281281270284292277292170
2017365264305276307296288299293293301283
2018281277292293324301299307295320313287
2019292281308312325298316308308323316293
2020298295281139        
Table 1B Monthly Excise Clearances of Unleaded Petrol (Million litres) April 2020
Million litres
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
2000180148168159175170166181168160164113
2001198150165167184171178193165179177117
2002211158178178194163191191174186174123
2003217159172180189170189182179187167123
2004228164190192183184194186186182183117
2005242167198193192197195204191184190109
2006265175204193202199190203195196197111
2007277182200195211199198214191214194102
200827718919120620418719319019320218099
200925516118017918717718617218317716496
201021115317517116717016516516516316064
201120714716015915415415315814814715192
201219713515013815113913714413314113568
201319211913613214312513513412413312768
201418011112712813311812912212512711469
201516910911912312211712511711812011067
201616010811611611511211011111210510860
20171439310910210910310010397969896
20188886889210395929387949089
2019837888919387929087878483
202079776825        
Table 1C Monthly Excise Clearances of Marked Gas Oil (Million litres) April 2020
Million litres
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
2000179153155132124125102113151116144104
2001192155160137126118114114166131116101
2002159129146138107103123121138136129117
2003176152136113111118108130123142140115
200417514715913212911311712712713812989
2005173147161131120140111154140120148100
200622415216214012113812112511113214680
200718214414612613512611613213114914264
20081681451251571251171099913112612082
20091181171271149311292921181039890
2010133112121148719883104909410665
2011136101106889499651041019510066
2012108911021049091949795979859
2013113891021019310010010286878247
201410471879082100918485817349
20151089182817798858892856859
20161048690878896859381868563
201710075898396100958983828776
201878869586110110909389988270
2019908185921041011069093888676
20208882112101        
Table 1D Monthly Excise Clearances of Kerosene (Million litres) April 2020
Million litres
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
20001118389558728303445559081
200110812510910647433026639710690
2002119102967051404344839091109
200315212490556335403566108104111
20041681161349261223461721158890
20051831361228056452586856312574
2006193134150100552829565411112592
200720814612856503742458912712470
20081881471271083827354082141139131
2009246150129976024574469109136132
20102431901561372614173473107173160
201120912587394232274392110120124
2012109946786402529436712112889
2013145981187748181532709912364
20141421088453351915394911011192
20151881248654472827581171098691
201617114411285412322398010314288
2017148145101634029295310599128148
2018121155198734216144894128118142
20191301001008044392346114124118150
2020124137186143        
Table 2 Annual Excise Clearances 2000-2019
Million litres
YearAutodieselUnleaded PetrolMarked Gas OilKeroseneAuto LPGOther LPGFuel Oil
20001,9921,9541,59678942851,443
20012,1502,0441,63095032771,597
20022,2632,1201,54793922671,200
20032,2992,1141,5659832273809
20042,4442,1881,5811,0532279950
20052,5962,2641,6451,0812277929
20062,8362,3301,6531,1262276884
20073,0252,3771,5921,1241279569
20082,9602,3101,5031,2021242423
20092,7142,1171,2741,2531153141
20102,5601,9301,2261,3290165130
20112,5631,8291,1551,051014785
20122,5481,6681,126898119577
20132,6761,5681,102906222683
20142,8471,483998857422764
20153,1061,4161,0141,015424561
20163,3301,3351,0441,050426356
20173,5711,2501,0551,089429858
20183,5891,0981,0871,149332549
20193,6791,0431,0931,068333045
Table 3A Wholesale Price Index for Autodiesel April 2020
2015=100
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
200058.458.259.559.458.859.861.061.268.468.868.862.1
200157.953.254.454.354.755.155.954.253.954.053.154.7
200254.454.455.657.758.158.157.257.257.959.159.359.5
200361.263.165.859.759.857.258.158.459.858.860.363.8
200463.663.663.665.268.568.267.669.372.374.674.673.5
200573.071.475.579.076.679.182.982.485.087.682.181.4
200682.282.984.185.586.186.187.087.884.483.383.283.3
200781.181.383.384.584.986.687.288.189.490.195.693.7
200896.195.3100.4101.7110.4114.3115.4105.1105.196.190.180.0
200979.978.675.883.684.488.783.989.787.088.789.790.5
201094.394.198.299.3100.4100.199.599.2100.6100.0102.2105.1
2011107.1108.3111.5111.9108.8110.3111.2108.2110.8110.9113.6112.6
2012115.9114.9117.0115.9114.5111.3114.0117.6117.7118.1115.1113.1
2013114.2115.7114.0111.7111.5111.4113.3113.0114.3112.5111.2111.4
2014110.7111.4109.7110.6110.5111.2110.7110.6110.1108.0106.9101.1
201596.7102.0103.0102.9104.6103.9101.998.998.297.897.892.4
201690.189.193.793.795.597.796.495.396.499.697.0101.8
2017102.0102.0100.0102.299.297.498.099.0100.6100.8102.3102.6
2018104.0100.5101.2104.4107.4107.2106.7107.6108.7111.4109.9105.0
2019105.0106.5106.7107.7108.2104.2106.7105.5106.8107.9107.7108.0
2020108.5105.596.793.2        
Table 3B Wholesale Price Index for Petrol April 2020
2015=100
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
200053.454.156.758.156.760.262.560.160.661.261.258.1
200154.655.056.556.961.462.559.055.555.554.952.555.0
200254.755.656.459.660.660.159.359.660.160.660.558.4
200359.862.362.460.459.657.858.459.461.059.459.062.0
200461.562.763.664.469.969.467.268.968.669.768.366.3
200564.166.668.072.671.172.076.777.882.279.374.974.8
200677.476.176.181.982.983.085.884.675.975.275.576.4
200775.175.479.681.584.185.786.283.183.283.188.085.3
200888.686.287.988.493.697.898.493.194.089.183.176.0
200977.081.878.783.186.590.786.091.187.687.689.990.3
201093.593.798.097.898.498.096.996.597.697.098.2102.4
2011103.8103.3107.0108.5108.2106.6108.3105.3107.8106.6105.9106.7
2012109.2110.5114.0114.9111.1108.5110.8114.6113.9113.9109.7108.2
2013109.5111.8109.8108.6108.7108.6111.1110.4108.6107.4107.0106.1
2014106.6107.6107.0108.7108.2110.1110.0107.8108.1105.5103.396.7
201593.398.6102.0102.5104.0105.8105.8101.197.696.797.195.4
201693.290.894.296.897.498.096.595.196.697.995.499.5
2017101.7102.499.6102.6100.398.898.699.4100.499.3101.6101.0
2018101.999.899.8103.1106.0105.6105.7106.6106.4105.5103.099.9
2019100.1101.0102.6107.3107.7103.5106.6104.1103.1104.3105.1105.0
2020105.7103.793.089.1        
Table 3C Wholesale Price Index for Gas Oil April 2020
2015=100
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
200049.35153.752.351.254.154.756.567.767.867.667.4
200160.355.556.154.656.25858.556.555.954.45349.8
200248.348.649.952.15352.551.552.153.855.756.554.5
200357.860.765.853.253.251.952.553.554.953.755.755.6
200455.353.854.757.661.361.861.464.567.869.769.965
200565.466.774.278.873.176.985.183.989.591.884.883.5
200685.886.788.390.290.99191.99389.684.383.182.8
200779.480.382.385.18587.288.290.293.793101.799.5
2008104.4102.2108.8109.4125.1131.5133.7119.2118.7103.695.878.6
200978.776.471.878.479.685.579.387.984.386.789.188.6
201091.490.796.997.6102.6102.6100.7100.1101.7100.7103.7105.3
2011109.1109.7114.2115.3110.9113114.4110.4113.7113.2117.3115.8
2012119.7119.4121.4119.9119.3115117.8122.2123.6124.5120.3118.5
2013119.3122.3118.9116.1116115.8118.6118.3119.7117.7116.4116.5
2014115.9116.7114.3115.2115.7116.3115.8115.6114.9111.4109.5101.7
201595.2103.6104.1104.9107.5105.9102.898.49796.596.587.7
201685.18490.490.893.896.795.393.494.798.695101.8
2017101.8102.499.4102.798.295.796.197.3100.7100.1103.8103.7
2018106.3101.1102105.4109.1108.8108109.6110.7113.5109.9103.9
2019104.2106.9107.4109.2109.4104.1107.4105.5106.9107106.8107
2020106.5102.990.385.4        
Table 3D Wholesale Price Index for Fuel Oil April 2020
2015=100
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
200047.648.253.051.847.749.152.052.156.658.160.558.6
200154.250.050.750.750.852.452.852.652.652.450.448.2
200248.548.649.851.252.252.651.851.852.855.655.053.1
200355.659.863.552.152.151.253.255.255.453.353.453.7
200451.450.450.652.155.256.456.056.456.456.657.053.3
200554.457.261.466.463.765.671.974.379.677.475.875.6
200676.881.880.881.280.780.080.582.278.773.973.772.4
200770.872.073.376.077.081.082.986.287.388.697.495.3
200899.895.497.499.1108.3114.2122.2113.9111.598.188.474.8
200974.877.174.379.683.589.884.793.590.892.196.195.3
201097.097.1101.2102.2107.9107.2106.9106.6106.8105.8107.7108.3
2011111.9112.4118.7121.3116.8119.2120.9116.0119.1119.6122.5121.9
2012126.2126.3129.6128.3126.1122.2124.4130.0130.1126.4123.0120.9
2013123.1125.9122.8120.3120.6120.4121.4120.7121.9119.9118.9119.4
2014118.1120.6119.2119.6119.9121.5120.7118.0117.9113.9110.1102.4
201595.8103.8103.6105.7108.0106.3103.397.595.296.295.688.9
201685.385.590.691.494.297.497.196.297.8101.597.9105.3
2017107.3106.1102.6106.5102.8101.1100.6101.1103.5104.0107.6106.1
2018109.0104.8105.4109.3113.9113.7113.4113.9114.8118.1114.2108.4
2019108.5111.6112.8113.6113.8109.5114.1110.2110.6110.7110.7110.4
2020110.2107.096.788.0        
Table 4 Met Eireann Monthly Mean Temperature for Dublin Airport 2000-2020
Centigrade
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
20004.96.17.36.410.513.314.615.113.29.36.05.3
20013.64.35.07.211.412.815.114.912.812.27.84.6
20026.86.47.28.110.913.114.415.012.59.58.46.4
20035.14.86.88.910.913.916.215.813.59.07.95.2
20045.44.96.58.710.814.514.415.513.69.28.06.4
20056.74.87.68.010.114.515.515.213.711.66.55.8
20065.65.05.58.010.814.616.915.214.711.67.66.6
20076.75.96.410.610.813.014.214.613.011.08.36.3
20086.45.86.07.611.612.814.815.212.48.96.94.4
20094.35.16.78.310.913.214.915.312.511.17.43.6
20101.72.34.97.79.614.116.013.913.110.15.2-0.1
20113.67.05.810.111.412.013.813.514.011.89.75.8
20126.16.68.06.69.812.714.015.312.08.46.45.4
20134.94.23.16.810.012.716.715.613.011.76.36.9
20145.75.66.88.911.313.615.813.913.110.97.75.4
20154.74.05.87.49.612.913.814.011.810.28.78.6
20165.74.45.96.211.114.015.715.414.310.45.66.7
20175.76.27.78.011.614.415.014.612.411.26.55.3
20185.33.44.38.111.414.516.115.312.29.38.27.7
20195.17.07.38.010.212.515.915.413.09.16.05.9
20206.3           

Background Notes

Introduction

Clearances reflect the duty paid amounts of oil removed from tax warehouses. Clearances data provide a proxy for sales and the associated level of consumption but do not reflect actual consumption per se. First, clearances relate to Irish duty paid product. They do not include consumption on which Irish taxes have not been paid. Second, clearances reflect the timing of withdrawals of product from warehouses by manufacturers rather than the timing of consumption.

Excise duties are indirect taxes on the sale or use of specific products e.g. alcohol, tobacco, and mineral oils. They are usually applied as an amount per quantity of the product. The Revenue Commissioners collect statistics on the volumes of fuel clearances covered by excise taxes. These monthly statistics show trends such as increased clearances of heating oils in unusually cold spells and reductions in clearances of road fuels in a period of restricted movement such as that resulting from COVID-19. This release includes information on monthly wholesale price indices for fuels and monthly mean temperature for Dublin Airport as an aid to users in understanding the trends.

Coverage

EU legislation on excise duties was largely prompted by the launch of the Single Market in 1993. EU legislation was adopted to ensure that excise duties for certain products were applied in the same way and to the same products throughout the Single Market, and that Member States applied at least a minimum rate of excise duty. All revenue from excise duties goes entirely to the Member States.

Data Sources

Monthly excise clearances data were obtained directly from Revenue. Revenue publish annual excise clearances data at https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-receipts-commodity.aspx

Excise Tax Rates

Excise duty on mineral oils is currently paid to the exchequer when the oils are removed from bonded warehouses. Current excise rates including carbon taxes are given in the table below in euro per thousand litres for the fuels most relevant for this release.

Fuel Rate per 1000 litres
Autodiesel  €494.90
Unleaded petrol €601.69
Marked gas oil  €117.78
Kerosene €65.74
Auto LPG €106.07
Other LPG €42.48
Heavy fuel oil non-propellant €95.05
Heavy fuel oil for navigation €494.90


National Oil Reserves Agency

NORA’s function is to arrange for the holding of national strategic oil stocks for supply in an emergency. NORA’s ongoing activities are partially funded by a levy imposed on disposals of oil products. The levy is paid by oil marketing companies and oil consumers on their relevant disposals of petroleum products in the State. Such companies are obliged to submit monthly reports to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. NORA publish monthly statistics that are broadly consistent with the excise clearances but there are differences in coverage. The NORA statistics are available at https://www.nora.ie/statistics.312.html

Revisions

All data are subject to revision, particularly the most recent months.

Wholesale Price Index

Wholesale prices for the bulk supply of different categories of petroleum fuels are obtained from the major fuel suppliers. All indices in the series are based on prices at the 15th of the month. Quarterly and annual indices are simple averages of the corresponding monthly indices.

Prices used in the compilation of the indices are:

  • before discounts or surcharges are applied
  • excluding delivery charges itemised on the invoice separately
  • before addition of direct subsidies
  • exclusive of VAT
  • inclusive of excise duty

Met Éireann

The monthly mean temperature data for Dublin Airport were taken directly from the Met Éireann website https://www.met.ie/climate/available-data/historical-data

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