Hawaiʻi Fuel Imports Dashboard

Crude oil is the natual resource that is used to create the petroleum products that are widely consumed in Hawaiʻi (e.g., gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil). See the Hawaiʻi Statewide Energy Flowchart to view each product’s statewide consumption.

Not all crude oil is the same. Since 2016, six different grades of crude oil have been imported into Hawaiʻi—each with different characteristics regarding density and sulfur content. Based on these characteristics, some crude oil is easier to refine into a consumable product than others.

The measure of crude oil density is known as API Gravity. American Petroleum Institute (API) Gravity measures an oil’s density relative to water. Below defines the underlying meaning of API Gravity:

• Greater than 10: Oil density that is lighter than water, thus floats on top of water
• Less than 10: Oil density that is heavier than water, thus sinking below water

Crude oil density is categorized into a light, medium, and heavy grade scale. Below is API Gravity’s interpretive scale:

• Greater than 38: Light (easier to refine)
• Between 22-38: Medium
• Less than 22: Heavy (harder to refine)

The measure of crude oil sulfur content is measured as percentage of total mass. Sulfur content is categorized into a sweet and sour scale. Below is sulfur content’s interpretive scale:

• Less than or equal to 0.5% total mass: Sweet (easier to refine)
• Greater than 0.5% but less than 2% total mass: Sour (harder to refine)

For more more details about the different classifications of crude oil, refer to the sub-sections below and FAQ section.

In 2024, four different grades of crude oil were imported into Hawaiʻi (listed below in descending order of magnitude). Select any product below to learn more.

Between 2016 and 2020, two more grades of crude were imported into Hawaiʻi. Select either product below to learn more.

Note: See FAQ to learn more about both the light/medium/heavy classification and the sweet/sour classification.

Jet fuel refers to the various types and grades of fuel consumed to power jet engines (e.g., Jet A, Jet A-1, etc.). For the context of Hawaiʻi, this fuel consumption is largely for commercial and military aviation.

In 2024, jet fuel imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered almost entirely from South Korea (94%). The remainder of jet fuel imports were delivered from Japan (3%), Brunei (2%), and Mexico (<1%).

From 2016-2024, South Korea and Japan have accounted for 90% of all the jet fuel Hawaiʻi imported (70% from South Korea and 20% from Japan).

Finished gasoline is a commonly consumed fuel that is derived from refining crude oil. Finished gasoline is used primarily for motor vehicle consumption.

In 2024, 90% of the finished gasoline imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered from South Korea.

From 2016-2024, South Korea has accounted for 79% of all the finished gasoline Hawaiʻi imported. Under the same timespan, the remainder consists of imports from Japan (12%), the continental United States (6%), and irregular shipments from other countries.

Recent imports of finished gasoline began in 2018.

Dirty condensates refer to hydrocarbon liquids originally found in underground reservoirs as a gas. When brought to the surface, these gases condense into a liquid form that can be refined into various fuels or used to dilute heavy crude.

In 2024, dirty condensates imported into Hawaiʻi were delivered mostly from Nigeria (88%) coupled with smaller amounts from Argentina (12%).

From 2020-2023, all dirty condensates imported into Hawaiʻi derived from Argentina.

Propane is a hydrocarbon gas that derives from natural gas or refinery gas and is often used by consumers for water heating, cooking, and powering machinery.

In 2024, propane imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered from the Dominican Republic (33%), Chile (28%), Canada (16%), Nicaragua (12%), and other countries (10%).

Since 2022, the Dominican Republic has been the largest source of propane imported into Hawaiʻi (57% of all propane imports from 2022 through 2024).

Diesel is a consumable fuel that is often used to power motor vehicles (e.g., trucks, buses, boats, military vehicles, etc.) and electric power generators. The diesel category is inclusive of low sulfur diesel (LSD) and various other unspecified grades of diesel.

Diesel is classified as a distillate fuel oil (DFO).

Since 2021, the continental United States has been the sole source of diesel imported into Hawaiʻi.

Note: Diesel is not inclusive of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD).

Chemicals include a wide variety of products. Commonly known products within the chemicals category include but are not limited to ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

Since 2019, the continental United States has been the sole source of chemicals imported into Hawaiʻi.

Asphalt refers to the material commonly used to pave roads which is derived from petroleum refining.

In 2024, asphalt imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered from Spain (83%) and Colombia (17%).

From 2017 through 2020, asphalt imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered entirely from Asia (Malaysia, South Korea, and China).

Ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) is a consumable fuel derived from the refining of petroleum. Diesel with a sulphur content of less than 15 parts per million (ppm) is considered to be ULSD.

ULSD is classified as a distillate fuel oil (DFO).

In 2024, ULSD imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered from the continental United States (81%) and South Korea (19%).

Gasoil is a petroleum product that is primarily used as a heating oil but is also selectively used for motor vehicles.

Gasoil is classified as a distillate fuel oil (DFO).

In 2024, gasoil imported into Hawaiʻi was delivered entirely from the continental United States.

High sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) is a consumable fuel derived from the refining of petroleum. Fuel oil with Sulphur content between 1% and 3.5% is considered to be HSFO.

HSFO is classified as a residual fuel oil (RFO).

HSFO was last imported into Hawaiʻi in 2018.

Low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) is a consumable fuel derived from the refining of petroleum. Fuel oil with Sulphur content between 0.5% and 1% is considered to be LSFO.

LSFO (in this context) is considered to be a residual fuel oil (RFO). If LSFO is fully distilled like in the case of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), then LSFO would be considered a distillate fuel oil (DFO). However, since ULSD is categorized separately, LSFO is classified as RFO.

LSFO was last imported into Hawaiʻi in 2021.

Olefins/Other chemicals refers to an array of resources including, but not limited to propylene, ethylene, butadiene, butylene, and isoprene.

The last recorded shipment of olefins/other chemicals was in 2018.

Blending components refers to an array of resources including, but not limited to alkylate and reformate. These products are used for blending into finished gasoline.

The last recorded shipment of olefins/other chemicals was in 2018.

Bitumen refers to a petroleum-derived product that is highly viscous and has an array of uses such as for road-paving and waterproofing.

The last recorded shipment of bitumen occured in 2023.

Some shipments in the Vortexa dataset are not specified as to the fuel that was imported into Hawaiʻi. For years 2016-2020 and 2022, unspecified fuels are accounted for.

The data presented in the Hawaiʻi Fuel Imports Dashboard is aggregated and maintained by the global cargo tracking company Vortexa. The data is derived from both external data sets (such as bills of lading) and a modeling analysis done by Vortexa.

When scrolling over countries in the map or elements of the dynamic bar chart, a tooltip appears that includes a pie chart indicating how much of the country’s fuel shipments are matched to external data sources versus being derived by Vortexa’s models. The colors of the pie chart have the following significance:

• Gray: Data matched to external data source
• Green: High predictive certainty from Vortexa’s models
• Yellow: Medium predictive certainty from Vortexa’s models
• Red: Low predictive certianty from Vortexa’s models

To lean more about Vortexa’s modeling methodologies, visit their website here.

Various products are relevant to electricity generation across Hawaiʻi. The collection of electric generation stations across the islands consume a different portfolio of fuels for their operations.

Imported crude is the product that largely represents electric generation from petroleum products in Hawaiʻi. However, crude is not consumed at electric power stations. Crude is first shipped to Oʻahu, refined into a consumable product, then used by a local electric power station to generate electricity.

Other fuel products that are relavent to electricity generation in Hawaiʻi include:

• Diesel
• Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)
• Low Fulfur Fuel Oil (LSFO)
• High Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO)

These additional products have been directly imported into Hawaiʻi and can also be used for electric generation.

Differences in crude are driven primarily by variance in density (API gravity) and sulfur content.

Not all crude is the same. Depending on where crude is drilled for and brought to the surface, crude will have different properties that make it easier or harder to refine into consumable products (e.g., gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc.). See the Platts Periodic Table of Oil to learn more about the properties of different oil fields’ crude.

For example, crude that has a lower sulfur content (known as sweet crude) is easier to refine than crude that has a higher sulfur content (known as sour crude).

Additionally, crude that has a low density (known as light crude) is easier to refine than crude that has a high density (known as heavy crude).

The classification of sweet and sour crude is derived from the crude oil’s sulfur content (measured as sulfur percentage of total mass).

• Sweet – Low sulfur content (sulfur less than or equal to 0.5% total mass)
• Sour – High Sulfur content (sulfur greater than 0.5% but less than 2% total mass)

Sweet crude oils are generally easier and cheaper to refine into consumable products (e.g., gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, etc.) than sour crude oils.

The classification of light, medium, and heavy crude is derived from the crude oil’s density (measured by API gravity).

• Light – Low density (API gravity greater than 38 degrees)
• Medium – Medium density (API gravity ranging from 22 to 38 degrees)
• Heavy – High density (API gravity less than 22 degrees)

Lighter crude oils are generally easier and cheaper to refine into consumable products (e.g., gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, etc.) than heavier crude oils.

For more information regarding the derivation of API gravity, visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration documentation here.