Analysis

A deep dive into fuel distribution industry data

Industry trade body, UKIFDA, takes a detailed look at latest sector data in this annual review.

Our members

UKIFDA represents 121 distributors who, in turn, deliver c90% of the UK’s heating oil directly to consumer homes via almost 12,000 employees and 500 local depots across the country. The majority of UKIFDA members are small, family-run, local businesses.

In contrast, in June 2018 there were 70 active gas and electricity suppliers. This has reduced to 26 currently.

The market is dominated by small, local, family-run businesses with less than 10 trucks. This provides significant price competition as a consumer, typically, has around 4 different distributors within a 30-mile radius of their home.

Our customers England

The data shown comes from census 2021 which provided options for households to choose two forms of heating. According to the census, 8% of homes have two or more forms of heating, excluding renewables such as solar and heat pumps. The census shows that the number of oil-heated homes has dropped 3% since the last census. It is likely that many oil-heated homes are in the Two+ (excluding renewables) number as they will have chosen oil and another form of heating such as wood.

Our customers Wales

The data shown comes from census 2021 which provided options for households to choose two forms of heating 9% of homes according to the census have two or more forms of heating excluding renewables such as solar and heat pumps. The census shows that the number of oil-heated homes has dropped 8% since the last census. It is, again, likely that many oil-heated homes are in the Two+ (excluding renewables) as they will have chosen oil and another form of heating such as wood.

Our customers Scotland

6% of Scottish homes are heated by oil, with larger concentrations in rural and remote areas. Typically, oil-heated homes across Scotland are distinctly different in character; they tend to be older, detached and larger. In addition, in keeping with the age and character of these homes, their energy efficiency tends to be significantly lower than the Scottish and UK averages.

Our customers Northern Ireland

The data shown comes from census 2021 which provided options for households to choose two forms of heating. 15% of homes, according to the census, have two or more forms of heating excluding renewables such as solar and heat pumps. The census shows that the number of oil-heated homes has dropped by 49% since the last census. It is likely that many oil-heated homes are in the Two or more as they will have chosen oil and another form of heating such as wood.

Our customers Ireland

39% of homes in Ireland are oil-heated, and the age profile, while similar to gas, reflects the fact that no oil homes have been built in the last 10 years. Oil-heated homes are split evenly between urban and rural, whereas gas is predominantly an urban fuel. Oil homes are mostly detached, whereas gas tends towards semi-detached and flat-based living. Energy performance tends to be similar to gas homes.