Downstream

Downstream refers to the portion of a process, supply chain, or system that proceeds after the source or initial stage. It is often described as the counterpart to upstream, which denotes activities closer to the primary source.

In the oil and gas industry, downstream encompasses refining of crude oil, processing of natural gas into marketable products, and the distribution and marketing of refined products to retailers and end users. It contrasts with upstream (exploration and production) and midstream (transport and storage).

In chemical engineering and bioprocessing, downstream processing describes the steps taken to purify and finish a product after the initial extraction or fermentation, including separation, purification, crystallization, filtration, and packaging.

In hydrology and environmental management, downstream refers to locations along a river or stream in the direction of flow, typically from source toward the mouth. Downstream effects describe changes or impacts observed downstream from a source of pollution or alteration.

In business and information systems, downstream can describe recipients or consumers of outputs from a workflow or supplier chain, or the distribution network in a value chain. In software and data pipelines, downstream components consume data produced by upstream components.