LOCAL REPORT Australia Paul Stephenson, OATS Limited
Australia, a highly developed, high-income economy country, is the largest in Oceania and one of the largest in the world, comprising of six states with a population of 26.1 million.
Australia is a large exporter of wheat, wool, iron ore, gold, coal, Liquified natural gas (LNG) and wine. Coal supplies 62% of its energy needs, with wind, natural gas and solar all at 10%, hydropower at 6.4%, and bioenergy at 1.4%. Total energy from renewable sources (2020) was 28%.
The country is a net importer of oil and refinery feedstock. The domestic production shortfall was about 547,000 b/d in 2020. In 2020, Australia overtook Qatar to become the largest LNG exporter at 3.7Tcf, with 21 LNG liquefaction facilities and 4Tcf/ year capacity.
In January 2021, the registered vehicle population was 20.1 million, of which 71.7% were petrol and 26.4% diesel fueled. Electric vehicle registration increased by 62.3% to just over 20,000 units. Toyota is the biggest-selling brand (22%), with Mazda at 9.3%, Hyundai 7.1%, Ford 6.5% and Mitsubishi 6.4%. Representing 47% of all models sold, SUV’s are the most popular models. Passenger cars are 21% of sales, light commercial vehicles 24%, and commercial vehicles about 5%, with the average vehicle age at 10.6 years.
Road trains — prime movers hauling two or more semi-trailers with up to 22 axles, are important freight carriers due to a lack of rail infrastructure. Brands such as Kenworth, Western Star and Freightliner predominate with Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Scania making inroads. The medium-duty commercial truck segment is dominated by Isuzu, Toyota, and Fuso, although Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, DAF, IVECO, and UD Trucks also compete.
In line with its ADR 80/3 emissions standard (effectively Euro V), Australia sells 10ppm sulphur diesel and 50ppm sulphur unleaded gasoline. Euro VI has been deferred with no end date for IC engines
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and few incentives for alternative-powered cars. In May 2022, Western Australia announced a 60 million Australian Dollar funding support for the uptake of electric vehicles whilst Queensland has just released a 55 million AUD incentive.
Predicted to reach 1.4 billion litres of sales by 2023, the Australian lubricants industry has followed many other countries by closing or repurposing loss-making refineries. Only two government subsidised refineries remain — Ampol’s 109,000 bpd Lytton, and Viva Energy’s 120, 000 bpd Geelong.
Like other developed countries, Australian cars trend to low-viscosity oils, with the most popular being SAE 0W/5W-30 and increasing use of SAE 0W-20. Heavy-duty equipment still favour higher-viscosity SAE 15W-40 and 10W-40, with lower oil viscosities being encouraged for improved fuel economy.
Because Australia imports much of its on/off-road, mining, and heavy-duty equipment, the use of all major lubricant standards such as API, JASO, and ACEA are recommended and specified. Approximately 45% of car lubricant recommendations now specify OEM-branded fluids, followed by API SM and SN specifications at 11% and 10% respectively. The heavy-duty market uses API and ACEA specifications as well as OEM-branded fluids.
The days of large, high powered saloon cars are over for Australia as Thailand becomes their dominant supplier. Cars manufactured in this latter country have ensured the demise of a once thriving automotive industry when a free trade agreement was enacted in 2005. Thailand’s import tariffs on engines larger than 2000cc capacity attract a 30% excise, whilst Australian made vehicles, mainly of 3000cc and greater capacity attracted a 50% excise. Larger size Australian cars, coupled with high wages made them uncompetitive and ensured the demise of this industry.
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