Calculated from hydrogen unit capacity, flash point degradation, and viscosity pressure.
“Jet fuel is chemically simpler to expand: cut lighter into kerosene, where sulfur is modest and viscosity is naturally fluid. Pushing diesel yields forces refiners into the bottom of the barrel, exhausting hydrogen and crashing into heavy hydrotreater limits.”
— Javier Blas, Energy Columnist (Bloomberg Opinion / #OOTT)
Refinery Constraint Diagnostic
Heavy hydrotreater limit reached: increasing diesel cut point raises sulfur and viscosity above spec.
Jet-Boost Seasonality: Jet fuel yields (kerosene) can easily be surged during summer travel because kerosene requires 30–50% less hydrotreating than diesel.
Diesel Crunch Friction: Diesel demand surges when industrial and agricultural heating peak. To maximize diesel, refiners pull deeper into heavier gasoils, requiring massive volumes of hydrogen to remove sulfur and prevent engine gumming.