Changes in product demand and crude supply require constant adaptation of the refining tool, taking all factors into account including the availability of dependable import and export sources as an alternative to direct investment. For many years there has been a worldwide trend towards a larger proportion of distillate products in the demand barrel. Coupled with the increasingly heavier crude supplies this has required investment in residue conversion units. In Europe the situation has been rendered more critical because of a relentlessly growing imbalance between gasoline and middle distillate demand.
展开▼
