Middle East expansion further clouds global refining picture

Challenges to refiners are myriad. Another boost in Mid-East Gulf capacity brings more complexity

Refining has always held the potential to be a challenging aspect of the oil industry. But the Covid-19 crisis has put the sector firmly in the spotlight, accelerating some existing trends and ushering in new ones. Global oil demand is expected to fall by 8.5mn bl/d this year. Product balances have been upended; peak oil demand anxieties have sharpened; investments have been curtailed and balance sheets have been weakened. And some integrated oil majors have accelerated portfolio adjustments to prepare for the energy transition. To make matters worse, net refining capacity additions in the Middle East show no sign of slowing. The region is expected to add just under 2mn bl/d of new capacit

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