Refiners and finance: who’s winning and where?
Companies that splurged on sophisticated capacity additions, like Repsol and Tüpraş, and the majors with balanced upstream-downstream portfolios will benefit most
While upstream oil and gas have harvested most of the corporate headlines over the past year, the often-overlooked oil refining sector has been delivering both volume and value for its backers. Analysts believe that value could continue to accrue for some time to come. Consultants Wood MacKenzie note that their 2017 Global Composite Margin, which gives an indication of crude oil refining margins worldwide, registered its second highest average since 2010—at $6.40 a barrel. This was only lower in 2015 when it registered $7.20/b, during the oil price crash. Wood MacKenzie forecasts that the margin won't dip below $6/b until after 2020. In this context, large diversified refiners operating comp
Also in this section
2 June 2025
More than anything else, weak Chinese gas demand is providing relief to EU consumers, but it is uncertain how long this relief will last
30 May 2025
Energy majors argue transition debate has started to factor in the complexities of demand shifts and the wider role for gas
29 May 2025
Sovereignty is the watchword for the new government, but there are still upstream opportunities for those willing to work closely with the state
29 May 2025
A cautious approach to coal-to-gas switching offers lessons to others who are looking to balance cost with cleaner energy
