Interest in developing biofuels has fluctuated and has been strongly driven by global energy trends. In 2024, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the international call for a green transition, and the increased focus on developing cleaner fuels to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries, interest in biofuels grew. Biofuels were expected to play a major role in the global green transition by helping to decarbonise industries that could not simply shift to renewable electricity, such as aviation. However, this interest waned in 2025, as several companies…
Refining & Products Context
Downstream margins — or crack spreads — have experienced considerable volatility as refinery operators navigate feedstock cost fluctuations, product demand seasonality, and evolving fuel specifications. Gasoline and distillate margins serve as key profitability levers for integrated refiners.
Refinery utilization rates, particularly in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Northwest European hubs, directly influence product availability and pricing. Unplanned outages, scheduled turnarounds, and weather-related disruptions are recurring factors that tighten regional product supply.
What to Watch
Key metrics to watch include refinery utilization rates, weekly distillate inventory builds or draws, and crack spread movements, which serve as real-time indicators of refining profitability across major processing hubs.
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