Within the barrel, although SFOT has been pointing out the weakness of the middle of the barrel, one thing that has been consitently weakening is the bottom of the barrel, fuel oil. While this has been the strongest product earlier this year, the recent shine on Gasoline took its outperformance away. Bearing in mind this product is still around some 20% of the barrel, its effect on refining margins is not negligible. The low sulfur fuel oil, which is used for power generation, is a direct competitor to coal and gas. As oil prices keep going higher, fuel oil prices are dragged up, and at some point, coal and gas(which has been underperforming), will be a cheaper alternative. SFOT hears this might be the case now, and end users are switching their input, which is putting a damper on Fuel oil cracks, particularly the low sulfur type. Coupled with good supply coming out of the black sea region, fuel cracks may continue to see a cap. With middle distillate also weak, refining margins are now coming under significant pressure. This is a clear example that the recent rise in price is fairly unwelcomed, and while momentum can overshoot flat price, the faster and higher it goes, the faster and stronger any pullback will be.
Proxy Brent crude refining margin
Low sulfur fuel oil crack at the year's low
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