Despite recovering energy flows out of the Middle East, India’s fuel consumption last month fell by 3.7% from May to a total of 19.24 million metric tons, Reuters has reported, citing data from the country’s oil ministry. Fuel consumption was also down on the year in June, by 3.1%, the data showed. However, gasoline sales were up on the year, by a substantial 7.4%, even though they were down on the month, by 3.2%. Reuters suggested sales of gasoline to Russia played a role in the sales increase, as Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian…
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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