When discussing the US energy industry, refinery count is an important metric, but it does not tell the whole story. A better understanding comes from looking at the number of facilities, total processing capacity, geographic concentration, and changes across the industry.
So, how many oil refineries are in the US in 2026?
According to the Mirror Review analysis, the United States has approximately 131 operable crude oil refineries, representing roughly 18.42 million barrels per day of atmospheric crude refining capacity.
For comparison, the US had 254 active refineries in 1982. The number has declined as smaller facilities closed, while many larger facilities expanded their capacity.
This creates an important distinction between refinery count and refining capability.
Texas is the leading state for refinery infrastructure, with approximately 34 facilities. Louisiana has about 15 and California around 14. The Gulf Coast remains a major center for refining because of its connections to crude supplies, pipelines, ports, and distribution systems.
The largest refinery highlighted in the analysis is the Motiva Port Arthur refinery in Texas, with approximately 730,000 barrels per day of capacity. Other major facilities are located in Galveston Bay, Beaumont, Garyville, Baytown, and Baton Rouge.
The US refining sector is also changing. Some facilities have closed or announced plans to idle, while other sites are being upgraded or converted to produce renewable fuels.
These developments are influenced by several factors, including fuel demand, electric vehicle adoption, environmental regulations, crude oil prices, and the economics of operating large industrial facilities.
For anyone researching how many oil refineries are in the US, the key takeaway is that facility count should be examined alongside capacity and location.
The complete Mirror Review article provides a detailed overview of the 2026 US refinery count, capacity, major states, and largest facilities.
Top comments (0)