rising competition for CpC Blend

摘要

Rising exports of US West Texas Light (WTL) crude are expected to compete di- rectly with light sour CPC Blend in the Caspian grade’s key markets — Europe and the Mediterranean region. WTL is viewed as an alternative to CPC Blend by European refners. The grades have densities close to 46?API and are rich in naphthenes, making them ideal for the production of gasoline blendstock. But WTL has a sulphur content of just 0.02pc — sweeter than most Nigerian condensates — while the Caspian grade is closer to North Sea light sour Forties with 0.61pc sulphur.