US refiners renew push for crude benchmark changes

摘要

US refiners are once again calling for a domestic crude benchmark that covers more than the standard gravity and sulfur pairing offered by the existing NYMEX contract. The push is being spurred this time by increasing concentration of shale crudes in the West Texas Intermediate common stream, which have pushed the average API gravity in Cushing-where that contract is delivered-beyond the maximum 42 degrees.