March 'an unusual month' for UK oil industry

March proved to be a strange month for the UK oil industry, according to newly published figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

In its latest monthly table of indigenous production, refinery receipts, imports and exports, the government department notes an intriguing trend during March.

This is due to a month of upgrades and maintenance across the UK oil industry.

During the month, low volumes of crude imports led to the UK becoming a net exporter of crude oil for the first time in three months.

However, it also remained a net exporter of petroleum products, as it had been throughout the quarter.

The DECC notes this "unusual" situation, with both crude oil and petroleum products exported overall.

During the quarter to March, the figures also show indigenous oil production down, by six per cent when compared with the previous year.

Figures from the DECC are issued on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis and are compiled to the standards necessitated by their status as National Statistics.