Refining

Asian petrochemical producers chase ethane gains as margins dwindle

Several petrochemical producers in Asia plan to reconfigure their crackers to process more ethane to reduce costs and capitalize on rising U.S. supplies as they face thin margins and global oversupply.

China's April refinery output fell 1.4% year-on-year

China's crude oil throughput fell in April from a year earlier, official data showed on Monday, due to maintenance at state-owned refineries and as independent plants curbed output amid poor margins.

Russia's idle oil refining capacity revised up by 30% in May

Russia's offline primary oil refining capacity has been revised up by 29.5% in May from the previous plan to 3.41 MM tonnes (t).

Malaysia's Prefchem restarts gasoline unit after repairs since January

Malaysia's Pengerang Refining Co. (Prefchem) has restarted one of its two residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) units in the past week after shutting it for repairs early this year.

Insight: Lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran could crush China’s 'teapot' oil refineries

The possible lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports could deal a fatal blow to independent Chinese refineries that have thrived by processing Tehran’s discounted crude, while also putting further downward pressure on oil prices.

U.S. EPA to rule on backlog of small refinery biofuel exemption requests

There are 161 applications for exemptions from the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard pending. The EPA's decision will have significant implications for the multi-billion-dollar credit market that underpins the biofuel program.

Topsoe’s technology chosen by Zhongneng Yida for 400,000-tpy SAF plant in China

Phillips 66 announces agreement to divest majority interest in Germany and Austria retail marketing business

Phillips 66 announced that its subsidiary, Phillips 66 Continental Holding GmbH, has entered into a definitive agreement to divest a 65 percent interest in its Germany and Austria retail marketing business, including JET-branded sites, to a consortium owned by subsidiaries of investment firms Energy Equation Partners and Stonepeak.

Asia's refined fuel imports drop, but margins still hold

Asia's imports of key refined fuels such as gasoline and diesel fell to the lowest in four years in April, driven by a combination of refinery maintenance and weaker demand in the top-importing region.

Japan's oil refiners scale back decarbonization efforts, refocus on fossil fuels

Japanese oil companies are scaling back decarbonization initiatives, including hydrogen and ammonia projects, amid a global shift towards more stable and cost-effective fossil fuels.