US refiners cornered as supply options become limited
Weighed down by higher costs and lower margins, the US downstream sector is facing closures that could shrink capacity
With the US just shy of starting an all-out trade war, American oil refiners are attempting to make sense of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats as crude imports become a less reliable option for declining domestic refinery capacity. In the latest development to the new administration’s tariff proposals, Trump announced plans on 13 February for reciprocal tariffs on “closed” countries that tax imports from the US, according to a factsheet released by the White House on the same day. The move aims to expand the US’ trade access in countries where export tariffs are disproportionate to those offered by the US for importing the same products. Essentially, the tariff-matching programme would
Also in this section
8 December 2025
The Caribbean country’s role in the global oil market is significantly diminished, but disruptions caused by outright conflict would still have implications for US Gulf Coast refineries
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
