Investment Trends Show Refinery Capacity Growth in Asia, Middle East, and Africa
Industry research indicates that spending on new refining capacity from 2025 to 2027 remains concentrated in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. These regions are expected to capture a majority share of planned refinery expansion projects both grassroots construction and debottlenecking efforts.
Global refinery capacity additions are forecast to grow at a slower pace than earlier years but still maintain momentum, driven by robust regional fuel demand and strategic energy security goals.
Total sector investment over the current planning window is projected to exceed $300 billion, with significant allocations toward new plants and unit upgrades to meet environmental and product specification requirements.
Experts note the shift reflects long-term demand growth in emerging markets, even as some Western refiners focus more on downstream rationalization or divestment.
Complementary infrastructure including storage, logistics, and marine terminals is also attracting capital, bolstering processing margins and enhancing supply chain flexibility.
