Heavy ends of crude distillation includes Furnace oil, Low sulphur Heavy Stock (LSHS), Residual Fuel Oil (RFO), Lube oils, Bitumen, Petroleum coke, Paraffin wax, other waxes etc.

Used as an industrial fuel, Furnace Oil (FO) is a dark viscous residual fuel obtained by blending mainly heavier components from crude distillation unit, short residue and clarified oil from fluidized catalytic cracker unit.

Internationally Furnace Oil is known as Fuel Oil and is traded in many varieties based on its specifications of viscosity and sulphur percentage. The most common varieties are 180 cst & 380 cst with 2.0% and 3.5% sulphur.

The latest estimation of world’s furnace oil production (residue/distillate) in 2004/05 is about 2500 million Metric Tons

India’s Furnace Oil production in 2003-04 is estimated at around 8.74 million metric tons. Consumption during the period 2002-03 is 8.03 million tons while imports were about 1.26 million tons valuing Rs. 1084 crores during same period.

The public sector refiners produce major share of furnace oil consumption requirements in India. The imports of furnace oil accounts for about 5-10% of total consumption.

Having being used across a plethora of industries, it is a very important commodity and the pricing, unlike some other petroleum products, is not administered by the government and is a freely priced commodity.

Bunker fuel, furnace oil, fuel oil are other names for the same product. Though Fuel oil is a general term applied to any oil used for generation of power or heat, Fuel oil can included distillates and blends of distillates and residue such as Light Diesel Oil.