From Newsgroup: alt.politics.usa

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/iran-middle-east-strait-of-hormuz/2026/08/17/id/1266394/

US Diesel Crack Tops $100 a Barrel Amid Supply Crunch

The U.S. diesel crack, a key measure of refining profitability,
hit an all-time high of $102.20 a barrel on Monday as global
supply disruptions from the wars in Iran and Ukraine run into
peak agricultural consumption season.

Measured as the rCipremium of U.S. diesel futures over U.S. West
Texas Intermediate crude oil futures, the U.S. diesel crack was rCi
trading at $99.82 a barrel, up 2.4% from Friday, as of 11:56 a.m.
EDT. The crack has hit new intraday record highs in five of the
past six sessions, reflecting growing concerns about rUafuel
availability as fresh attacks on Middle Eastern refineries added
to existing supply disruptions.

Global refinery crude throughput averaged rCi80.9 million barrels
per day in July, down about 5 million bpd from a year ago,
the International Energy rUaAgency said in a monthly report last
week.

U.S. refiners have ramped rUaup diesel production to benefit
from record-high cracks, rCibut stockpiles are still declining
in rUathe country due to strong export demand

. . .

OK ... stop exporting it. Let the Euros come up with
their own home-brew replacement. It CAN be synthesized
from the basic elements these days, maybe a few additives,
and they'll HAVE something.

Diesel is a less sophisticated fuel. Gasoline engines
are incredibly picky these days, but diesel engines have
not changed much since the beginning. Some will run on
a mix of old french-fry oil, not so picky.

Thing is, 'heavy equipment' - industrial, naval, farming -
needs exactly what diesel engines deliver. Loads of torque,
high efficiency, rugged reliability. You CAN put a gasoline
engine in a tractor, but it'll have to be a BIG one geared
way down and will suck lots of fuel. Run a giant cargo
ship ?

Gasoline ... saw a couple of stations with $3.77 prices
today. Getting better. But diesel ... we have to DO
something about this and the most immediate way is to
cut way back on the amount we export. I've also heard
Trump complaining about price-gouging practices, so
going after that can help some too.

The USA is quite *big* - meaning everything has to be
transported large distances. 18-wheelers do most this,
but operators have to be able to afford the diesel.

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