Monday, August 24, 2026
EPA extends RFS compliance deadline as refiners run flat-out amid supply crunch
Crack spreads are blowing out and refiners are sprinting at max capacity — and just as the squeeze peaks, EPA hands them a breather on biofuel blending paperwork.
Diesel and gasoline cracks remain elevated ($104.62/bbl and $54.68/bbl respectively) as US refiners run near record utilization amid Iran-related supply disruptions and Russian refinery strikes tightening global product markets. EPA's move to extend the September 1 RFS compliance deadline offers refiners some relief on biofuel blending obligations, while Reuters flags historic stress on the US refining system as a global fuel supply crisis takes shape. Meanwhile NYMEX RBOB and ULSD both posted sharp weekly gains, and a California bill would codify refinery worker safety protections following past fires and explosions.
Change vs. prior data point. Spot prices & single-product cracks vs WTI, from EIA data ↗
📈 Markets & Prices
Global refining disruptions turn the oil shock into a fuel supply crisis
Pressure in global energy markets is shifting from crude oil toward refining capacity, with record margins, disrupted capacity, and tighter exports creating a fuel supply crisis.
Nymex Overview: Crude and Product Prices End the Day, Week Higher -- OPIS
Crude oil and refined product futures ended the day and week higher Friday as markets price in possible disruptions to global petroleum supplies.
Front Month Nymex RBOB Gasoline Rose 5.14% This Week to Settle at $3.3479 — Data Talk
Front-month NYMEX RBOB gasoline for September delivery gained 16.38 cents/gal, or 5.14%, to settle at $3.3479 for the week.
Front Month Nymex ULSD Rose 4.95% This Week to Settle at $4.4948 — Data Talk
Front-month NYMEX ULSD for September delivery gained 21.19 cents/gal, or 4.95%, to settle at $4.4948 for the week — the largest two-week gain since late July.
Oil Rises as US Targets Iran's Economy
Crude extended its rally as Asian demand strengthened while the Iran conflict continued to constrain global supplies.
🏭 Refining & Supply Ops
US refiners face historic stress test as global crisis loomspaywalled
US refineries have operated near maximum capacity for the longest sustained period in over a quarter century as they scramble to capture windfall profits from the Iran war, though history suggests risks ahead.
US Refiners Face Import Crunch from Top Crude Seller
US refiners face a looming supply drop from their biggest foreign crude supplier just as they need the oil most.
California bill would secure safeguards for refinery workers after long history of fires, explosions
California lawmakers are considering a bill to place current refinery-worker safety protections into state law while regulators rework rules under an industry settlement.
Court Upholds Trump Admin Order to Restart SYU
A court upheld the Trump administration's order to restart the Santa Ynez Unit (SYU), which the Justice Department called a win for domestic energy production.
Ukraine's Fire Point confirms strikes on oil refinery and Ozon warehouse in Russia's Samara region
Ukraine's Fire Point confirmed drone strikes on the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia's Samara region overnight.
Lukoil’s Perm refinery struck 1,530 km from Ukraine’s northern border, Kyiv confirms
Lukoil's Perm refinery was struck 1,530 km from Ukraine's northern border, part of an overnight wave that also hit a military airfield in Volgograd Oblast.
🏛️ Policy & Credits
US EPA to extend renewable fuel standard compliance deadline for refinerspaywalled
EPA plans to extend the September 1 deadline for refiners to demonstrate compliance with the nation's biofuel blending laws, the agency said Friday.
EPA extends deadline for refiners to comply with renewable fuel standard
EPA announced in a Friday notice that it would extend the deadline for oil refiners to comply with the renewable fuel standard.
🤝 Deals & Retail
Can Phillips 66, Marathon, or Valero Afford Delek US Holdings Now?
Delek US has surged past its own analyst targets, with its CEO saying all options are on the table for a potential sale to a major refiner.