The Hydrocracker Market: 125.2 billion USD by 2033

The global market for hydrocrackers, essential to the production of high-quality fuels, will reach 125.2 billion USD by 2033, driven by growing demand for cleaner energy.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The hydrocracker market is booming, driven by the growing need to transform heavy hydrocarbons into lighter, cleaner refined products.
A key technology in the refining industry, hydrocrackers help to meet environmental regulations while optimizing the production of fuels such as diesel and jet fuel.
Refineries are increasingly adopting these units to maximize the yield of high-value-added products, particularly in regions where demand for low-sulfur fuels is rising sharply.
The hydrocracking process, which is more complex than traditional methods, is now indispensable for producing fuels that comply with stringent emission reduction standards.
Developments in associated technologies, notably catalysts, have significantly improved the efficiency of hydrocracking units, reducing operating costs and boosting the competitiveness of refineries on the world market.

Strategic investments to support growth

North America stands out as the most dynamic market, with sustained investment in refining infrastructure.
In the United States, the modernization of refineries largely includes the integration of advanced hydrocracking technologies, in response to the growing demand for clean fuels.
These investments are essential to maintain the competitiveness of our facilities in the face of market and regulatory demands.
At the same time, Asia, and India in particular, has seen a significant increase in refining capacity, strengthening its position on the world market.
The integration of cutting-edge technologies in new facilities is enabling these countries to meet the growing demand for fuels while complying with international standards for reducing CO2 emissions.

Technological Challenges and Sector Outlook

Technological advances play a crucial role in the expansion of the hydrocracker market.
Innovations in processes and catalysts are maximizing unit efficiency, reducing costs while increasing the production of high-quality refined products.
These improvements are particularly important at a time when fluctuating crude oil prices and geopolitical uncertainties require rigorous management of costs and resources.
Major market players such as Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation and Chevron Lummus Global continue to develop and implement expansion and innovation strategies.
These companies are investing heavily in research and development to maintain their technological lead and meet the needs of a constantly evolving market.
The ability to produce cleaner fuels while optimizing production costs will be decisive for the sector’s future growth.

The United Kingdom is replacing its exceptional tax with a permanent price mechanism, maintaining one of the world’s highest fiscal pressures and reshaping the North Sea’s investment attractiveness for oil and gas operators.
Pakistan confirms its exit from domestic fuel oil with over 1.4 Mt exported in 2025, transforming its refineries into export platforms as Asia faces a structural surplus of high- and low-sulphur fuel oil.
Turkish company Aksa Enerji has signed a 20-year contract with Sonabel for the commissioning of a thermal power plant in Ouagadougou, aiming to strengthen Burkina Faso’s energy supply by the end of 2026.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium resumed loadings in Novorossiisk after a Ukrainian attack, but geopolitical tensions persist over Kazakh oil flows through this strategic Black Sea corridor.
Hungary increases oil product exports to Serbia to offset the imminent shutdown of the NIS refinery, threatened by US sanctions over its Russian majority ownership.
Faced with falling oil production, Pemex is expanding local refining through Olmeca, aiming to reduce fuel imports and optimise its industrial capacity under fiscal pressure.
Brazil’s state oil company will reduce its capital spending by 2%, hit by falling crude prices, marking a strategic shift under Lula’s presidency.
TotalEnergies has finalised the sale of its 12.5% stake in Nigeria’s offshore Bonga oilfield for $510mn, boosting Shell and Eni’s positions in the strategic deepwater production site.
Serbia is preparing a budget law amendment to enable the takeover of NIS, a refinery under US sanctions and owned by Russian groups, to avoid an imminent energy shutdown.
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery selects US-based Honeywell to supply technology that will double its crude processing capacity and expand its petrochemical output.
Iraq secures production by bypassing US sanctions through local payments, energy-for-energy swaps, and targeted suspension of financial flows to Lukoil to protect West Qurna-2 exports.
Restarting Olympic Pipeline’s 16-inch line does not restore full supply to Oregon and Seattle-Tacoma airport, both still exposed to logistical risks and regional price tensions.
Faced with tightened sanctions from the United States and European Union, Indian refiners are drastically reducing their purchases of Russian crude from December, according to industry sources.
Serbia’s only refinery, operated by NIS, may be forced to halt production this week, weakened by US sanctions targeting its Russian shareholders.
Glencore's attributable production in Cameroon dropped by 31% over nine months, adding pressure on public revenues as Yaoundé revises its oil and budget forecasts amid field maturity and targeted investment shifts.
The profitability of speculative positioning strategies on Brent is declining, while contrarian approaches targeting extreme sentiment levels are proving more effective, marking a significant regime shift in oil trading.
Alaska is set to record its highest oil production increase in 40 years, driven by two key projects that extend the operational life of the TAPS pipeline and reinforce the United States' strategic presence in the Arctic.
TotalEnergies increases its stake to 90% in Nigeria’s offshore block OPL257 following an asset exchange deal with Conoil Producing Limited.
TotalEnergies and Chevron are seeking to acquire a 40% stake in the Mopane oil field in Namibia, owned by Galp, as part of a strategy to secure new resources in a high-potential offshore basin.
The reduction of Rosneft’s stake in Kurdistan Pipeline Company shifts control of the main Kurdish oil pipeline and recalibrates the balance between US sanctions, export financing and regional crude governance.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.