Oil & Gas Refining

?Phillips 66 announced a surprising first-quarter profit a day earlier, after higher refining rates helped offset'severe losses due to volatile commodity prices. The U.S. Gulf Coast?Refiners? are enjoying their highest margins for years as the disruptions in Middle Eastern oil supplies due to the Iran War have increased demand for U.S. Fuel Exports. U.S. refiners have increased international sales through the U.S. Gulf Coast Hub, as they are less dependent on Middle Eastern crude. Quarterly U.S. refinery margins measured by the 3-2-1 Crack Spread In the first quarter of this year, grew by about 73%. Phillips 66 realized margin increased...

Fuel margins have reached multi-year highs due to supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war. After the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran, which began on February 28, the refiners' diesel and jet fuel margins were much higher than they had been at the beginning of the year. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow shipping channel that transports about a quarter of world oil and a significant share of fuel exports. Analysts believe that the bulk of the profits will be realized later in the year. The shares of major U.S. refining companies such as Valero Energy and...

Three people familiar with the matter said that Exxon Mobil, a U.S. energy giant, is "considering" selling its 'gas stations' in Hong Kong. The deal is expected to be worth a few hundred millions dollars. The company has hired a financial advisor and had discussions with a few bidders. Exxon didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. Bloomberg reported the first on the sale of the assets. According to people familiar with this matter, Exxon could seek a value between $500 million and $600 million. Oil and gas producer Esso offers a wide range of products?and services in Hong...

Two people familiar with the plant's operations said that Valero Energy Corp. has partially restarted their 380,000 barrels per day Port Arthur, Texas refinery after an explosion and fire on March 23. Valero repairs the heater on the 210,000 bpd crude distillation unit (CDU) while the production line of the 115,000 bpd CDU is running. This production line is closed. A Valero spokesperson failed to respond to a question for comment. During an inspection of the units of the refinery following the 23 March shutdown of the unit due to the fire, Valero found a damaged tube within the AVU-146?heater....

Peter Magyar, Hungary's election-winning candidate, said he will meet Zsolt Henadi (executive chair of MOL) later on Thursday to discuss the "security" of fuel supply and dividend payments to an institution that was linked to his predecessor. The centre-right Tisza party (Respect and Freedom), led by Magyars, won the election in a landslide. This ended Viktor Orban’s 16-year nationalist rule. Orban released a portion of the state's fuel reserves in response to a January halt in Russian oil deliveries through a pipeline that Kyiv claims was damaged by a Russian air strike. Magyar stated on Wednesday that the actions of...

Data from Kpler & LSEG revealed that Europe was experiencing record-breaking inflows of Jet Fuel from the United States. The region is trying to replenish fuel supplies as a result of the Middle East's disruption. Due to the U.S. and Israeli war against?Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed. This has prevented the Middle East from supplying Europe with nearly 75% of their?jet fuel, or about 375,000 barrels a day. According to a document viewed by, this has caused European airlines to call on the European Union (EU)?to take emergency measures including widespread airspace closings. Based on vessels...

On Tuesday, the Philippines' Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced that her country is asking for an extension of a waiver allowing it to buy Russian oil and petroleum. Garin told a news briefing that he was awaiting the response of the other party, but he was confident about getting this 'other window.' The waiver had expired on April 11. Garin stated that the government is confident about obtaining the extension, but is also preparing alternative?supply arrangements in the event the request is denied. She said that the Philippines is diversifying its energy supply sources, and the options do not just...

Analysts and experts say that U.S. Gulf Coast refiners have the highest margins they've ever had as Middle Eastern oil flow disruptions resulting from the Iran War increase demand for U.S. exports of fuel. Refiners in Asia and Europe have been impacted by the?slump of Middle Eastern crude exports as a result of Iran's blockade of Strait of Hormuz. This has forced some to reduce production. The U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has agreed to a ceasefire of two weeks with Iran. This agreement is conditional upon the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, tanker...

Chevron announced on Thursday that it expected to see a boost of $1.6 billion to $2.2 billion in its first-quarter earnings, compared to the fourth quarter?of 2025. This was due to a'surging' oil and gas prices from the volatility associated with the Iran War. Oil prices soared by up to 65% after the conflict began on 28 February. Some oil and gas fields shut down production in the Middle East - the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit that carried a fifth of global energy flows, was effectively closed. According to LSEG, Brent crude oil prices in the first quarter averaged...

Exxon Mobil Corp is planning overhauls at its Beaumont, Texas refinery that produces 612,000 barrels per day - in the spring and the end of the year, according to people familiar with the plant's operations. Sources said that Exxon will shut down the 60,000 bpd coker in May for an overhaul. The planned overhaul is expected to continue until June. Sources say that in December, the fluid catalytic 'cracker', which produces 120,000 bpd of gasoline, will be closed for an overhaul, along with two hydrotreaters, lasting until January. Cokers are used to convert residual 'crude oil' into fuels, or petroleum...

U.S. refiner Philips 66 reported on Monday that its first-quarter earnings were impacted by a sharp rise in commodity prices. This left?it? with nearly $900,000,000 in mark-to market losses before taxes, according to an SEC filing. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran started in late February. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a chokepoint for a fifth of world oil and gas supplies - has caused global energy markets to be roiled and crude prices have soared. Phillips 66’s losses are mainly due to its net short positions in derivatives contracts relating to crude oil and refined...

Venezuela's government, its political opposition and the United States are coordinating their legal defenses of Venezuela's oil-rich assets. Washington's recognition of interim president Delcy Rodriquez raised questions regarding who could represent Venezuela in U.S. court. The lawyers for Rodriguez's government, as well as the opposition, asked Manhattan's U.S. Magistrate Sarah Netburn to pause for 45-days a case where creditors seek to seize funds?linked to Petroleos de Venezuela until they decided who would represent Venezuelan interests. The letter "signaled" potential cooperation between the Rodriguez government and the opposition in safeguarding U.S. assets, such as the Houston-based oil refiner Citgo Petroleum, from...

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company notified customers that two crude grades could be 'loaded outside of the Gulf next month, as the Strait of Hormuz was closed. ADNOC is moving the crude grades Das and Upper Zakum from the terminals on Das Island (and Zirku Island) located in the Gulf, to outside locations for loading. The exports of these terminals are down dramatically as there have been fewer ships willing to cross the strait after the U.S. - Iran?war began in late February. ADNOC informed clients that it would make cargoes available to be loaded outside the Arabian Gulf on...

Trump Administration announced on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on an independent "teapot refinery" in China for?buying billions worth of Iranian crude oil while Washington and Tehran are struggling to restart peace negotiations. Treasury Department targeted Hengli Petrochemical Refinery Co., which they said was one of Iran's biggest customers for crude oil and petroleum. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury Department said that it had also imposed sanctions against about 40 shipping firms and vessels operating as part of Iran’s shadow fleet. Last year, the Trump administration imposed sanctions against teapots Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group and...

Three sources with knowledge of the matter said that Mercuria sold aluminum in Europe at a price below what was assessed by the price reporting agency Fastmarkets. This suggests the global benchmark may not always reflect the prices buyers are willing to pay. The price of European aluminium has risen following the Iran War, which disrupted Middle East supplies. Fastmarkets is used widely by both producers and consumers for large-volume trades of aluminium, which is used in construction, packaging, and transport. A source said that Mercuria had failed to get bids when it attempted to sell aluminium earlier this month...

Sinopec, the state-owned oil company of China, has purchased Russian crude oil in order to replace Middle Eastern oil after a temporary suspension of sanctions by the United States to ease global supply shortages. Sinopec purchased between 8 and 10 cargoes a year of ESPO blend oil from the eastern port Kozmino. Another source estimated that Sinopec bought about 10 cargoes a year of ESPO. Each ESPO shipment is 740,000 barrels. Sinopec purchased the cargoes for a premium of between $8 and $10 per barrel over ICE Brent. Before the Iran conflict, Russian crude was traded at a discount ranging...

Kuwait raised its official selling price for Kuwait Export Crude in Asia to $17 per barrel over the average 'Oman/Dubai quotations' from $0.50 in April. After weekend talks failed to?clinch a deal? to end the Iran War, the U.S. Military announced it would blockade maritime traffic in Iranian ports and coastal regions. This could jeopardize a fragile?two-week truce. Documents showed that the producer increased the Kuwait Super Light Crude OSP for May to $17 per barrel over Oman/Dubai prices, up from $1.15 in April. Middle East producers have boosted official prices for Asia for May. Saudi Arabia set the price...

Australia's export credit agency will underwrite spot market purchases by Ampol and Via?Energy through its largest suppliers. This was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday. The new laws were passed by the parliament last week to allow Export Finance Australia (EFA) to finance fuel imports as a response to shortages caused by the Iran War. Since the U.S. and Israel war against Iran began late in February, Australia has been experiencing localised shortages. Albanese said at a press conference that "Export Finance Australia has agreed to terms with two of our largest suppliers...to enable them to?bring more petrol...

Industry sources say that spot premiums for U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude are at all-time highs due to the fierce competition for oil supply between Asian and European refiners. This is in response to Middle Eastern oil flow disruptions caused by the Iran War. Europe is the biggest importer of U.S. oil, but the competition has increased as Asian buyers are searching for supplies from the Americas and Africa to Europe to replace Middle Eastern crude that cannot move through the Strait of Hormuz. Sources and analysts say that the increase in crude oil prices has increased costs for refiners...

Elon Musk's spaceX could be the break-through that global IPO market needs. Saudi Aramco was the last company to debut on the market with a valuation of over one trillion dollars in 2019. SpaceX has all the ingredients the IPO market?has been looking for to end a long-term drought of mega-deals. It is a company with a valuation over "trillion dollars", a CEO who enjoys cult like retail support, and exposure to a?high-growth?industry. Investors' appetite for an IPO of this magnitude is still uncertain. Analysts and experts say that the company's success is unique, so it could only have a...

Japan's industry minister said that if the Iran -war continues, the Group of Seven wealthy nations and the International Energy Agency should be prepared to take additional flexible measures to stabilize?energy markets. Ryosei Acazawa, after a meeting online with G7 Finance Ministers, Energy Ministers, and Central Bank Governors, told reporters that these actions could include coordinated additional oil stockpile release at the appropriate time. He said that in Asia, "soaring energy prices and supply concerns are becoming more acute. Shortages of fuel and raw material disrupt global supply chains, and could have a negative impact." The U.S.-Israeli war against?Iran, which...

A document containing an EU internal briefing revealed that the European Union's energy ministers would meet on Tuesday in order to coordinate their responses to the disruption of oil and gas market caused by the Iran War. Europe's heavy reliance?on imports of energy has exposed it to spiraling prices, since the Strait?of Hormuz, the main shipping route was closed effectively and Tehran began attacking the energy infrastructure in Middle East. Since the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran began on 28 February, European gas prices have increased by more than 70%. The EU document asked ministers to "indicate which concrete...

A spokesperson for the European Commission said that Slovakia's decision to enact a resolution this month allowing service stations to limit diesel sales and set higher prices on cars with foreign plates is a violation of EU law. "We note that the Slovak Government has adopted a new measure, which imposes a 30-day restriction on diesel fuelling in Slovakia and introduces?differentiated prices for domestic vehicles and foreign cars. The spokesperson said that higher prices would be charged for vehicles with foreign license plates. We will take legal action in order to comply with the law. "We believe that this measure...

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, said that the fundamentals of Indian economy were strong, and that the country had enough petroleum, fertilizers, and coal to weather the trade and energy disruptions brought on by the U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran. The conflict, which started last month, has affected sectors ranging from air travel, shipping, and gas supplies. It also caused the Strait of Hormuz to be almost closed, which is a major conduit for 40% of India’s crude oil imports. Modi, the lower house of parliament, said that India had enough petroleum reserves, with strategic reserves exceeding...