World Production of Petroleum Substitutes

Abstract

The present study is intended as a preliminary statistical survey of theworld's production of petroleum substitutes. The information presented isadmittedly deficient. It is believed, however, that the increasing importanceof these substitutes, particularly with Europe at war, justifies itspresentation at this time, if for no other reason than to encourage enlightenedpertinent discussion. The world's production in 1939 of petroleum substitutes ? whichapproximately 97 per cent are direct substitutes for motor fuels ? istentatively estimated at 108,000,000 bbl., or equivalent to the combined outputof crude oil in 1939 of Rumania, Mexico and Colombia. With few exceptions, these figures of production represent also actual figures of consumption. TheUnited States, owing mainly to its output of natural gasoline, leads allcountries in the production of these products, with about 53 per cent of thetotal. In European countries, particularly Germany, the imminence of war in 1939 forced an increase in production and improvement of methods of manufacturingmotor fuels, largely from coal, with the result that this country produced inthat year over 20,000,000 bbl. of substitutes. Since the beginning of.hostilities, substitutes have offered more and more the means of meeting theunfavorable balance between supply and demand in European countries; theincrease in production of these products being at least in part offset by thesystematic bombing of synthetic plants and oil storage. T.P. 1274