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United States Gulf Coast heavy crude oil rates company as supplies tighten up

Costs for heavier crude oil along the U.S. Gulf Coast have climbed up in current weeks, trading at a rare nearpar with lighter oil, a sign of supply tightness that could add to increasing fuel prices.

Refineries along the Gulf Coast, which represent more than 55% of overall U.S. refining capacity, are tailored to run medium and heavy crudes which produce more diesel and jet fuel than lighter oil. Much heavier crudes are usually cheaper as they are dirtier and cost more to process.

Pushing up heavy crude costs are falling oil exports from Mexico, the potential for resumption of sanctions on Venezuelan crude, the imminent start-up of a Canadian pipeline, and continued output cuts by the Company of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+).

Heavy Louisiana Sugary food unrefined traded at a $2.60 per barrel premium to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures on Monday, compared with a premium of a $2.80 for Light Louisiana Sweet, according to rates information supplier General Index.

That 20-cent distinction is a fraction of the almost 60-cent average for all of 2023.

Rising prices for heavy oil will likely help drive up fuel rates heading into the U.S. summertime driving season. The average retail price for a gallon increased to $3.60 this week, up 20 cents from a month ago. Greater prices add to inflation.

Costs for Canadian crude in Houston are up, trading at an average discount of $4.35 to WTI this quarter compared to an average discount of more than $6 in the in 2015. Canada's. Trans Mountain oil pipeline growth is set to start business. operations on May 1 and will send more oil to the Pacific Coast.

Mexico's cuts will lower exports of its flagship Maya heavy. crude by 122,000 barrels each day (bpd). Area prices for Maya. along the Gulf Coast reached about $77.20 per barrel so far. this month, compared with about $70 in the last quarter and last. year, according to General index data.

Adding to provide tightness for Gulf Coast refineries,. Washington has actually signaled it could reimpose oil sanctions on. Venezuela's oil exports. The U.S. imported between 140,000 and. 170,000 bpd of Venezuelan crude in recent months.

OPEC+ has actually consented to extend voluntary curbs to the end of. June, although some countries have surpassed their quotas.

Costs for medium and heavy sour crude oils climbed up last. month in part on the U.S. government's now-canceled strategy to. repurchase crude for its emergency reserve. Crude rates rose. beyond the limit set for Strategic Petroleum Reserve purchases.

(source: Reuters)