WORLD CONSUMPTION OF MOTOR FUEL National appetite for motor fuel, in other words, motor car registration and use, largely tells the story of the relative posi tion of nations with respect to petroleum consumption. Gasoline, the product of greatest utilization derived from petroleum, fuels over 40,000,000 motor vehicles throughout the world, as well as aeroplanes, tractors, stationary engines, and other power plants. Inasmuch as the United States has 28,000,000 motor cars regis tered and in use, thus accounting for 7o%, a two-fold explanation of that country's overwhelming leadership in petroleum consump tion and production is supplied. It must, however, be coupled with recognition of the fact that the United States has been blessed with tremendous oil resources accessible to ready markets and intensively developed until recently under unrestricted competi tive methods. With this development emerged one of America's foremost industries. In enterprise and scientific operation, the American petroleum industry has played, since the early days of petroleum, a leading role, not alone in its own country, but throughout the world. That, also, has contributed to the ranking position of the United States in consumption.
The United States accounts for 62% of the total world con sumption of all petroleum products. Second only to gasoline in volume of consumption is fuel oil. The United States consumes, both for domestic and industrial purposes, nearly 6o% of all the world uses annually. Oil heats a million American homes.
While they have far to go to approach the United States, which has one car for every five of its population, in the universality of use of the motor car, other countries, particularly in Europe, have made great gains in recent years, these reflected by increased gasoline consumption. There is one motor car for every 23 of population in the United Kingdom, compared with one for every 43 in 1926; in France, one for every 20, against one for every 44 in 1926; in Germany, one for every 56, against one for every 196 of population in 1926. Road building for motorized traffic in Europe is going forward on a scale reminiscent of that which accompanied the great growth of American motor car use. An ever-present factor, pointing to further expansion, is armament programs. Not only the motorized land and sea fleets but those of the air, demand more and more gasoline.