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Bill Barnes
20 April 2018
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Middle distillates take centre stage

Oil-product demand, especially for middle distillates, is rising more quickly that processing capacity. It's good news for refiners

Most oil refiners should be able to look forward to a period of comfortable margins and high capacity use, as consumption rises more quickly than new nameplate capacity and the demand barrel shifts to favour middle distillates, industry officials and analysts say. But they caution that the market won't let the good times roll for everyone. "Margins should generally, globally be pretty good, but it'll depend on where you are," says Alan Gelder, head of consultancy Wood Mackenzie's refining, chemicals and oil markets division. He and others point out that while the industry can be expected to get a boost from growing petrochemicals demand and an expected shift to middle distillates from fuel o

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Trump’s Russia threat rings hollow
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
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24 July 2025
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24 July 2025
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The country’s energy minister explains in an exclusive interview how the country is taking a pragmatic and far-sighted approach to energy security and why he has great confidence in its oil sector

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