Downstream news updates

Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst, Capital.com, offers commentary on the latest developments in the Middle East, and how this is likely to affect global oil markets.

The US Energy Information Administration published its April Short-Term Energy Outlook this week, examining the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Fluor Corp. has announced that it has been selected by America First Refining (AFR) to execute the front-end engineering and design for their large-scale refining facility in Brownsville, Texas, US.

Southern Energy Renewables Inc. have announced that Southern and Axens have signed an MoU to collaborate on the development of SAF and related fuel projects, with an initial focus on Southern's facility in Louisiana, US.

In 2025, the US imported an average of 490 000 bpd of crude oil from the Middle East Gulf region – Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the US EIA has reported.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that it has underwritten US$2.5 billion in the US$4-billion senior syndicated term loan in favour of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

The European Investment Bank and Eni have signed a 15-year loan for €500 million to convert selected units of Eni’s Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi refinery, Italy, into a biorefinery.

Phelan Green has announced that it has selected Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its planned eSAF facility in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.

MAIRE has announced that Nextchem, through its subsidiary KT Tech, has been awarded a contract for early engineering works and proprietary equipment supply for an SAF plant under development in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia.

OCI Global have announced the completion of the sale of 100% of its equity interests in OCI Ammonia Holding B.V. to AGROFERT, a.s., a significant European nitrogen products manufacturer.

HES International has joined the German Carbon Management Allianz to advance Europe's CO2 infrastructure.

BASF is launching Butyl acrylate RE and 2-Ethylhexylacrylate RE, two new products that are manufactured at BASF’s Freeport, Texas site, US, with attributed electricity from renewable sources.

Gevo Inc. has announced that it is developing plans for a potential expansion at the site of its Richardton, North Dakota facility in the US, by adding a second ethanol production facility.

Integrated solvent dewaxing and deoiling systems gradually replace conventional wax separation units in refineries. The combination of solvent dewaxing and solvent or solvent-free deoiling improves operational efficiency and final products qualities. It reduces investment and operating costs. Refineries are unlocking additional value while meeting increasingly stringent market and regulatory requirements.

OMV and XRG, ADNOC’s international investment arm, have announced the formation of Borouge Group International AG, to operate under the brand name Borouge International.

NGL exports reached 3.1 million bpd in 2025, growing 7% from the previous year, NGL plant production increasing every year since 2005.

Topsoe has signed a front-end engineering and design (FEED) agreement with Hynfra P.S.A. for an advanced green ammonia project in Aqaba, Jordan.

The API has issued a statement on the US EPA’s final Renewable Fuel Standard “Set 2” rule, establishing volume obligations for 2026 and 2027.

TotalEnergies and EDF have sign a long-term partnership to secure low-carbon electricity supply for TotalEnergies’ refining and chemicals sites in France.

Mitsui Chemicals Inc. has announced that it has acquired certification under the ISCC PLUS system for ACTCOL™ produced at its Nagoya Works in January 2026, certifying sustainable products.

LNG Canada is starting construction work near its marine terminal consisting of wharf demolition, quay wall construction, and assessment of dredging work.

AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson has issued a statement today on the EPA’s announcement of a record-breaking final Renewable Fuel Standard rule covering years 2026 and 2027.

BASF has announced the official inauguration of its newly built Verbund site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in southern China.

A strong manufacturing sector prompts China to account for more than a third of global plastics consumption, according to GlobalData.