U.S. West Coast refinery margins slump despite reduced capacity
U.S. refiners are making less money turning crude oil into fuels on the West Coast as the region's gasoline inventories grow and the use of biofuels increases, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows.
In California, where most West Coast refining capacity is located, refinery margins for gasoline and diesel fell below average this spring despite shrinking refinery capacity in the region, according to the EIA.
The region's refinery margins dipped as refiners ramped up production for the summer and fuel consumption slowed, adding to inventories.
In early May, Los Angeles regional gasoline crack spreads, which measures refining profit margins, dropped below their historical averages for this time of year, the EIA said.
Five-day averages for gasoline crack spreads were around $0.5 per gallon in July, compared with around $1 a year ago. Average diesel crack spreads were around $0.5 in July, also down from around $0.8 a year ago.
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