Inflation here? gas/grocery prices just continue to climb

Maxp said

I believe our refineries are set up for specific types of crude and that can be changed. Not all our refineries process the same oil either. Gulf Coast oil hasn't been leaving the country for very long so someone was refining it. Used to be we exported finished products and not crude. I'm sure we have done refinery operators on here way more knowledgeable than I.

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I think that is correct. Most Gulf refineries were designed to refine high sulphur (sour) crude from the Gulf. Canada has traditionally been set up for refining low sulphur (sweet) crude found in their oil fields. I think its easier to go from sour to sweet than vice versa. At this point I think most refineries are pretty well set up to handle whatever type of crude comes their way.

Regardless of oil type, refineries are constantly changing the mix of the products they produce based on market conditions and other business plans. If gasoline prices tank, they will produce less gasoline and increase production of other refined products (chemicals, etc.)

I think the current gas crunch (across the globe) is an aftershock from shuttered production during covid that isn't yet ramped up again to meet growing demand for fuel.