Petroleum products are the family of refined goods produced from crude oil at petroleum refineries. A modern refinery converts crude oil into a range of products, from light gases to heavy residues, each with distinct chemical properties, specifications, and market applications.
Petroleum Product Distillation Ladder
Products are separated by their boiling point range during the atmospheric distillation process:
| Product | Boiling range (°C) | Key specification | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPG (propane/butane) | <30°C | Vapour pressure, composition | Heating, cooking, petrochemicals |
| Naphtha | 30–180°C | PONA analysis, RON | Gasoline blending, petrochemical feedstock |
| Gasoline | 40–200°C | RON/MON octane, Reid vapour pressure | Automotive fuel (petrol) |
| Jet A-1 / Kerosene | 150–300°C | Freeze point, flash point, thermal stability | Aviation turbine fuel |
| EN590 / Gasoil | 200–370°C | Cetane, sulphur ≤10ppm, CFPP | Road diesel, heating oil |
| VLSFO / HFO | 350–500°C | Sulphur ≤0.5%, viscosity, density | Marine propulsion |
| Bitumen / Asphalt | >500°C | Penetration grade, softening point | Road construction, waterproofing |
Tradeable Petroleum Products on Skyra CIP
Skyra CIP focuses on the most actively traded petroleum products in B2B bulk commodity markets:
- EN590 10ppm ULSD — European automotive diesel, minimum cargo 25,000 MT
- Jet A-1 / AVTUR — aviation turbine fuel to DEF STAN 91-091, minimum cargo 5,000 MT
- VLSFO (0.5% S) — IMO 2020-compliant marine bunker fuel, minimum 500 MT
- D2 Gasoil — heating and agricultural diesel, varied specifications
- Bitumen — penetration grade and polymer-modified, primarily Middle East origin
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the main petroleum products?
The main petroleum products by volume are: (1) Gasoline/Petrol — automotive fuel, (2) Diesel/EN590/Gasoil — road transport and heating, (3) Jet A-1/Kerosene — aviation fuel, (4) VLSFO/Bunker Fuel — marine propulsion, (5) Naphtha — petrochemical feedstock, (6) LPG (propane/butane) — cooking and heating, (7) Bitumen/Asphalt — road construction, (8) Lubricants — industrial and automotive.
- How are petroleum products priced?
Petroleum products are priced as a differential (crack spread) to the relevant crude oil benchmark — typically Brent for European products. The crack spread reflects refinery processing costs, product demand, and seasonal factors. EN590 typically trades at a $150–300/MT premium over Brent; Jet A-1 at $200–400/MT; VLSFO bunker at a discount of $50–120/MT.
- Which petroleum products are most traded internationally?
The most actively traded petroleum products globally are: (1) EN590/ULSD — largest diesel market in Europe and Asia, (2) Jet A-1 — global aviation fuel market, (3) VLSFO bunker fuel — marine fuel, (4) Naphtha — petrochemical feedstock, widely traded across Asia, (5) Gasoline — large Atlantic Basin trade flow. Crude oil itself is the single largest commodity traded globally by value.