Non-OECD countries drive energy consumption

A report from the U.S. Energy Department said countries outside the OECD led the world in liquid fuels consumption for the first time ever in April. The Energy Information Administration, the department's statistical arm, said countries outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development used 44.5 million barrels of liquid fuels per day in April, compared to the 44.3 million bpd from OECD members. The 34 members of the OECD encompass North America, Europe, parts of South America, East Asia and Australia. The EIA said it expects OECD consumption to rise during the second quarter of 2013 in part because the United States enters its so-called driving season, when travelers hit the road for vacation. That lasts through September. Chinese demand for liquid fuels, like oil and other petroleum products, has more than doubled since 2000. The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its June market report China would lead the world in terms of growth in oil consumption. "OECD consumption is expected to exceed non-OECD consumption for the second half of 2013, before falling back below non-OECD levels in 2014," the EIA said Wednesday.