U.S. airlines are grappling with soaring jet fuel costs again after the return of hostilities in the Middle East shattered the three-week-long U.S.-Iran ‘deal to make a deal’ and sent Brent crude oil prices soaring past $100 per barrel again. The U.S. jet fuel market has been tightening since March, although there haven’t been concerns about any shortages in America, unlike in Europe, which in April was supposed to run out of stockpiles within six weeks.
Europe didn’t see shortages, but the global markets tightened, and…
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.
Read original article at OilPrice.com