A diplomatic stalemate in the Middle East has effectively taken the Strait of Hormuz offline, removing a critical artery for global crude and refined product flows.
With Brent crude forecasts targeting $95 per barrel, Washington has authorized a 172-million-barrel exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to temper prices ahead of the peak summer driving season. This policy maneuver, however, is creating a powerful side effect, a historic arbitrage opportunity for U.S. oil refiners, positioning them for a period of exceptional profitability.
