where does nz get its oil from
New Zealand now gets almost all of its petrol, diesel and jet fuel as refined products from large refineries in Asia, especially Singapore and South Korea, with Malaysia and Japan also important suppliers.
Quick Scoop: Where does NZ get its oil from?
- New Zealand is a net importer of oil and fuel â it uses far more than it produces.
- Until 2022, crude oil was imported and refined at Marsden Point, but that refinery has shut and the site now works only as an import terminal for finished fuels.
- Since the switch to an importâonly model, most of NZâs fuel comes preârefined from:
- Singapore (largest source of refined products in 2023)
* South Korea (major and growing share, about half of fuel import value by early 2025)
* Malaysia and Japan (smaller but significant shares).
What about NZâs own oil?
- New Zealand does produce some crude oil from fields mainly off Taranaki, but this âsweet, lightâ crude is almost entirely exported , mostly to Australia and Singapore.
- The old Marsden Point refinery was not designed to process New Zealandâs own crude, which is why local production doesnât cover domestic fuel needs.
How this changed over time
- Before 2022:
- NZ imported a mix of crude oil (often from the Middle East, e.g. Saudi Arabia) and refined fuel.
* Marsden Point refined the crude, supplying most of the country.
- After 2022:
- Crude imports fell to zero and imports shifted to 100% refined products.
* Trade patterns moved away from crudeâexporting countries towards refining hubs like Singapore and Korea.
Todayâs big picture
If you ask âwhere does NZ get its oil fromâ in 2026, the practical answer is:
- Everyday petrol, diesel and jet fuel at the pump mainly come from Singapore and South Korea , with additional volumes from Malaysia, Japan and other Asian refineries.
- NZâs own crude oil mostly leaves the country on tankers and is refined overseas, rather than used directly at home.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
