US Atlantic coast refiners have the most to lose from a relaxation of US crude export restrictions,after they were slower to tap the surge in US light crude produc-tion than their domestic competitors.The region’s refiners have since 2011 imported more light sweet crude than the massive US Gulf coast refining complex. New US and Canadian crudes swiftly eroded non-Canadian imports to the mid-continent and US Gulf coast.But a lack of pipeline access and domestic water-borne shipping has left the Atlantic coast with limited access to domestic light, sweet crudes.And east coast refiners already face foreign competition for US light crudes.The US government has approved limited exports to Canadian refiners.US independent refiner Valero expects to increase shipments to its 265,000 b/d St Romuald,Quebec,refin-ery.But Valero sees little interest for US shale oil among east Canadian peers configured to run intermediate crudes
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