Refiners face numerous challenges in 2022
Tide turns for middle distillates
Strong prices for middle distillates might persist due to a range of supply and demand factors
Dated Brent reached $100/bl in mid-February, exposing refiners to a new set of challenges for the year ahead, including crude procurement, managing high operating costs—due to high natural gas and carbon prices—and the need to address growing product demand. At the same time, jet fuel margins show strong signs of recovery and gasoil/diesel balances appear set to tighten even further. The key themes in product markets last year were the strength of gasoline and refiners opting to blend surplus jet fuel into the diesel pool, while 2022 has ushered in a new set of challenges and opportunities for refiners. The most notable of these has been the rally in middle distillates. Several factors have
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
