Quote:
Originally Posted by Gogar
+1 to Dottore's question.
Why is diesel more expensive? Isn't it easier to make? I have no idea.
Oh, wait: Its more expensive because we can't do without it.
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Diesel does not require quite as much refining complexity, but it uses the same raw materials and the conversion rate favors gasoline, so no, diesel is not really cheaper to make. That's an urban myth. Trying to exceed capacity can be very expensive.
Diesel is more expensive now because the demand for it overseas has increased drammatically and it's much more expensive to import than it used to be. We currently can't make enough to supply our own demands.
Supply and demand.
Refineries were designed to take a barrel of oil and convert about 50% of it to gasiline and about 15% of it to diesel and about 10% of it to jet fuel. The rest is less valuable by-products like propane, hydrogen, sulfur, asphalt, petroleum coke, etc.
Demand for diesel is surpassing the original design capacity of refineries, especially the ones originally built during WWII. We're changing that but it takes a little time.