Asia to dominate global crude distillation units capacity additions through 2030

The global conventional refining industry is anticipated to expand considerably from 2025 to 2030, fuelled by increasing energy demands from emerging markets and strategic investments in refining infrastructure. Consequently, the capacity additions of crude distillation units (CDUs) are accelerating globally, with Asia projected to lead these expansions across all regions through 2030, says GlobalData, the data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, Conventional Refineries Industry to 2030 – Capacity and Capital Expenditure Outlook with Details of All Operating and Upcoming Refineries, shows that Asia is likely to add CDU capacity additions of 8,874 thousand barrels per day (mbd) between 2025 and 2030, followed by the Middle East and Africa with 6,213mbd and 5,307mbd, respectively.

Bhargavi Gandham, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The increasing energy demand, driven by expanding populations and economies, especially in China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia is anticipated to propel capacity additions in CDU across Asia.”

India is expected to witness the highest CDU capacity additions in Asia, with 2,356 mbd capacity expected to be added by 2030. The CDU expansion project at the Vadinar refinery with a capacity of 515mbd is the largest upcoming CDU refinery in the country in terms of capacity additions during 2025–30. It is slated to begin its operations in 2026. Other notable refineries, including Haldia III, Panipat, and Paradip, are expected to contribute significant capacity additions during the outlook period.

GlobalData identifies China as the second highest contributor to the CDU capacity additions in Asia, approximately accounting for a quarter of the region’s capacity additions by 2030. Among the upcoming CDU projects in China, Caofeidian V leads with 401 mbd of CDU capacity to be added in 2029.

Pakistan ranks third, contributing about 15% of the region’s total CDU capacity additions during the outlook period. The Larkana refinery leads in terms of upcoming CDU capacity with 400mbd.

Gandham concludes: “Several Asian nations are actively investing in the modernisation and expansion of their refining infrastructure, aimed at strengthening energy security and improving refining efficiency. These initiatives are expected to drive CDU capacity additions in the region.”