U.S. oil refining margins hit 3-month excessive as plant outages rise

By Shariq Khan

(Reuters) – U.S. oil refining margins on Tuesday hit a three-month excessive and are doubtless headed increased, analysts stated, as unplanned refinery outages weigh on already-tight gas provides.  

The outages have pushed up gasoline costs in Texas and Oklahoma this 12 months forward of what’s anticipated to be a heavier than regular turnaround season for refineries. The rising costs and margins are uncommon for this time of 12 months, when journey falls.

The crack unfold, a key gauge of refiner income that measures the distinction between costs and promoting costs of completed merchandise, touched $42.41 on Tuesday, the very best since October. The five-year January common is $15.56, an evaluation of Refinitiv Eikon knowledge confirmed.

Common gasoline costs in Texas hit about $3.07 a gallon on Tuesday, up nearly 44 cents from a month in the past, in response to the AAA motor group. Motorists in Oklahoma are also paying about 45 cents extra, at $3.13 a gallon, AAA knowledge confirmed.

A diesel producing unit at PBF Vitality (NYSE:)’s Chalmette, Louisiana, refinery was shut following a fireplace on Saturday. It might be out for not less than a month. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:) stated Monday it is going to carry out deliberate upkeep on a number of models at its Baytown, Texas, petrochemical advanced.

The continued refinery upkeep season might be a lot lengthier than regular, with many U.S. Gulf Coast refineries nonetheless working beneath capability after Winter Storm Elliott knocked out some 1.5 million barrels per day of refining capability in December. A Suncor refinery in Commerce Metropolis, Colorado, has remained offline for the reason that storm.

Plenty of overhauls have been additionally delayed by the pandemic, and refiners are actually planning twice as many overhauls this spring than regular, placing extra stress on gas provides.

Gas inventories are low relative to historic ranges, “so there may be little margin for error,” stated Rob Thummel, portfolio supervisor at Tortoise. U.S. gasoline inventories are at about 10% beneath regular and diesel round 20% beneath regular.

A coming ban on Russian seaborne gas cargoes will place new calls on U.S. refined merchandise, stated Ole Hansen, head of commodity technique at Saxo Financial institution.

“Provide of diesel to Europe from the U.S. and the rising refinery hub within the Center East might make up among the lacking barrels from Russia, however a shortfall appears doubtless,” Hansen stated.

(This story has been refiled to insert dropped phrase within the headline)