Annual Survey of Secondary Distributors of Refined Petroleum Products (SRPP)

Detailed information for 2025

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on the volume of refined petroleum products distributed by secondary distributors in Canada. It supplements energy consumption data collected from the refineries in the Annual Survey on End-Use of Refined Petroleum Product (record number 2168).

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Annual Survey of Secondary Distributors of Refined Petroleum Products (SRPP) is a cost recovery survey sponsored by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

By definition, secondary distributors of refined petroleum products (RPPs) are commercial entities that act as buyers and resellers between the supplier and end user for RPPs.

Secondary distributors emerged in the marketplace as refineries have accelerated the divestment of the distribution of their products by relying on fuel resellers/secondary distributors.

Prior to the introduction of the SRPP in 2009, the Annual Survey on End-Use of Refined Petroleum Product (AEND) (record number 2168) questionnaire alone was unable to clearly allocate the RPP demand by end-user as represented by secondary distributors. Refineries would allocate sales made to secondary distributors to the commercial and institutional sector, a heterogeneous grouping of approximately 20 industries in the service sector, resulting in inflated energy consumption statistics for this particular sector. The need for a supplemental survey was necessary in order to more accurately capture this consumption data in the Canadian economy.

Together with AEND, a refinery census survey, the SRPP survey collects RPP sales data which is then integrated into Statistics Canada's annual Report on Energy Supply and Demand in Canada (RESD). The RESD data are used extensively by ECCC to derive greenhouse gas inventory calculations and by NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency to produce the Energy Efficiency Handbook. The RESD is the primary source of information provided to the International Energy Agency in order to meet Canada's international reporting requirements.

Statistical activity

The survey is administered as part of the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). The IBSP has been designed to integrate approximately 200 separate business surveys into a single master survey program. The IBSP aims at collecting industry and product detail at the provincial level while minimizing overlap between different survey questionnaires. The redesigned business survey questionnaires have a consistent look, structure, and content.

The integrated approach makes reporting easier for firms operating in different industries because they can provide similar information for each branch operation. This way they avoid having to respond to questionnaires that differ for each industry in terms of format, wording and even concepts. The combined results produce more coherent and accurate statistics on the economy.

• Additional documentation

Reference period: Calendar Year (January 1st to December 31st)

Subjects

• Energy
• Petroleum products

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population is comprised of all establishments engaged in the resale of motor gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, heating fuel and heavy fuel. Under the North American Industry Classification (NAICS), these establishments are classified as either fuel resellers (code 4572) or petroleum wholesalers (code 412). The observed population is comprised of those establishments in the target population for which business information is available on Statistics Canada's Business Register and whose revenue exceeds a minimum threshold or cut-off. The cut-off excludes from the population all establishments that comprise the bottom 10% of an industry and/or province grouping and is implemented to reduce response burden for small establishments.

Establishments mainly engaged in the retail or wholesale distribution and sales of crude oil, aviation fuel, asphalt, and lubricating oils and greases are excluded from the target population of this survey. Also excluded from this survey are establishments covered by the Annual Survey on End-Use of Refined Petroleum Products.

• Additional documentation

Instrument design

The electronic questionnaire used for this survey has been designed to minimize different interpretations. The survey was field tested with respondents to ensure the questions, concepts and terminology were appropriate. Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design and Resource Centre performed qualitative tests of the questionnaire by conducting cognitive interviews with 12 small, medium and large size companies in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Sampling

This survey is a census with a cross-sectional design.

The sampling unit for this cut-off census is the enterprise as defined on the Statistics Canada Business Register. The sample size is roughly 500 establishments.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2026-02-04 to 2026-04-08

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Data are collected via electronic questionnaires. Survey reminders as well as non-response follow up are conducted via email, fax, and telephone. Telephone interviews to help complete the survey are offered and conducted by the regional office in either English or French.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .