When was the last refinery built in the United States?
As of January 1, 2023, there were 129 operable petroleum refineries in the United States.
The newest refinery in the United States is the Texas International Terminals 45,000 b/cd refinery in Channelview, Texas, which started operating operating in February 2022.
However, the newest refinery with significant downstream unit capacity is Marathon's facility in Garyville, Louisiana. That facility came online in 1977 with an initial atmospheric distillation unit capacity of 200,000 b/cd, and as of January 1, 2023, it had a capacity of 596,000 b/cd.
Capacity has also been added to existing refineries through upgrades or new construction. Some recent examples of large increases include:
- In 2012, Motiva upgraded its refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, making it the largest U.S. refinery, with a capacity of 626,000 b/cd as of January 1, 2023.
- In 2015, Valero expanded its Corpus Christi, Texas refinery after previous expansions, bringing its capacity as of January 1, 2023, to 290,000 b/cd.
The newest refineries currently operating in the United States
| Year built | First operated | Location | Original owner | Original capacity b/cd | Current owner | 2022 Capacity b/cd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | Galveston, Texas | Texas International Terminals | 45,000 | Texas International Terminals | 45,000 |
| 2021 | 2021 | Kern, California | Talley Asphalt Products | 1,700 | Talley Asphalt Products | 1,700 |
| 2018 | 2019 | Channelview, Texas | Targa Resources | 35,000 | Hartree Partners | 45,000 |
| 2016 | 2017 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Magellan Midstream Partners | 42,500 | Magellan Midstream Partners | 42,500 |
| 2015 | 2015 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Buckeye Partners | 46,250 | Buckeye Partners | 60,000 |
| 2015 | 2015 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Buckeye Partners | 46,250 | Buckeye Partners | 60,000 |
| 2015 | 2015 | Houston, Texas | Petromax Refining | 25,000 | Petromax Refining | 25,000 |
| 2014 | 2015 | Galena Park, Texas | Kinder Morgan | 42,000 | Kinder Morgan | 105,000 |
| 1998 | 1998 | Atmore, Alabama | Goodway | 4,100 | Goodway | 4,100 |
| 1993 | 1993 | Valdez, Alaska | Petro Star | 26,300 | Petro Star | 55,000 |
| 1991 | 1992 | Ely, Nevada | Petro Source | 7,000 | Foreland | 2,000 |
| 1986 | 1987 | North Pole, Alaska | Petro Star | 6,700 | Petro Star | 21,000 |
| 1985 | 1986 | Prudhoe Bay, Alaska | ARCO | 12,000 | ConocoPhillips | 15,000 |
| 1979 | 1980 | Wilmington, California | Huntway | 5,400 | Valero | 6,300 |
| 1978 | 1979 | Vicksburg, Mississippi | Ergon | 10,000 | Ergon | 26,500 |
| 1978 | 1979 | North Slope, Alaska | ARCO | 13,000 | Hillcorp, North Slope | 6,500 |
| 1977 | 1978 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Calcasieu | 6,500 | Calcasieu | 135,500 |
| 1976 | 1977 | Garyville, Louisiana | Marathon | 200,000 | Marathon | 596,000 |
| 1976 | 1977 | Krotz Springs, Louisiana | Gold King | 5,000 | Delek | 80,000 |
| 1975 | 1975 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Saber | 15,000 | Valero | 290,000 |
Learn more:
Refinery Capacity Report
Refinery Rankings
Articles on petroleum refining
Last updated: June 21, 2023.
Other FAQs about Diesel
- Why are diesel fuel prices higher than gasoline prices?
- How much tax do we pay on a gallon of gasoline and on a gallon of diesel fuel?
- Does EIA publish inflation-adjusted gasoline and diesel fuel prices?
- When was the last refinery built in the United States?
- Does EIA publish off-road diesel fuel prices?
- What do I pay for in a gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel?
- How do I calculate diesel fuel surcharges?
- What are the projections for U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel prices?
- How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil?
- Does EIA have forecasts or projections for energy production, consumption, and prices for individual states?
- How much carbon dioxide is produced from U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel consumption?
- How much biomass-based diesel fuel is produced, imported, exported, and consumed in the United States?