Crude grade comparison

Alaska North Slope vs Esmeraldas Blend

Price, Alaska North Slope spread, quality and refinery yields side by side. Updated July 06, 2026.

USA (Alaska)

Alaska North Slope

$89.90USD/BBL

■ 0.00(0.00%)

Class: Medium/Sour
API: 31.9°
Sulfur: 0.93%

Alaska North Slope – Esmeraldas Blend spread -- USD/BBL · Alaska North Slope premium

Ecuador (Esmeraldas refinery feed)

Esmeraldas Blend

Class: Medium/Sour
API: 28°
Sulfur: 2%

Alaska North Slope Crude vs Esmeraldas Blend Crude: on July 06, 2026 Alaska North Slope settled at $89.90/bbl (0.00%) and Esmeraldas Blend price information is not available. Alaska North Slope is medium/sour crude (31.9° API, 0.93% sulfur); Esmeraldas Blend is medium/sour crude (28° API, 2% sulfur).

Crude quality

Quality & refinery yields

How the two crudes differ in the barrel. Each property uses its own scale.

Alaska North Slope Crude
Esmeraldas Blend Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter

ANS31.9°

EB28°

Sulfur contenthigher = sourer

ANS0.93%

EB2%

Densityhigher = heavier

ANS0.87 g/cm³

EB0.89 g/cm³

Viscosityhigher = thicker

ANS7.8 cSt

EB15 cSt

Pour pointhigher = waxier

ANS15 °C

EB17 °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel

ANS36-40%

EB24-28%

Diesel% of barrel

ANS32-36%

EB32-36%

Jet fuel% of barrel

ANS10-12'%

EB10-12'%

Residual fuel% of barrel

ANS16-20%

EB22-28%

Bars show each yield range; the faint part runs from 0 to the low end. Scale 0–50%.

Full specification comparison

Full specification comparison of Alaska North Slope Crude and Esmeraldas Blend Crude
Property	Alaska North Slope Crude	Esmeraldas Blend Crude	Alaska North Slope − Esmeraldas Blend
Classification
Classification	Medium/Sour	Medium/Sour
Origin	USA (Alaska)	Ecuador (Esmeraldas refinery feed)
Chemical properties
API gravity	31.9° API	28° API	+3.9 °API
Sulfur content	0.93%	2%	-1.07%
Density	0.87 g/cm³	0.89 g/cm³	-0.02 g/cm³
Pour point	15 °C	17 °C	-2 °C
Viscosity	7.8 cSt	15 cSt	-7.2 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline	36-40%	24-28%	+12 pts
Diesel	32-36%	32-36%	0 pts
Jet fuel	10-12'%	10-12'%	0 pts
Residual fuel	16-20%	22-28%	-8 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basis	Valdez, Alaska (US West Coast)	Esmeraldas domestic
Major exchanges	Platts (ANS West Coast); CME	Spot differential
Export hub	Valdez, Alaska	Esmeraldas
Main destinations	US West Coast, Asia	Ecuador domestic, Peru, Colombia
Benchmark type	Regional (US WC)	Regional (Domestic)
Market profile
Key characteristics	US West Coast benchmark, moderate sour grade	Ecuadorian domestic refinery feedstock, limited export
Refining notes	Moderate distillate yield; significant fuel oil portion	Primary use: domestic refining

FAQ

Alaska North Slope vs Esmeraldas Blend questions

The spread, the quality gap and why each grade is a benchmark.

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July 06, 2026 Alaska North Slope Crude was $89.90 and Esmeraldas Blend Crude $ per barrel, so Esmeraldas Blend traded at a premium of $0 over Alaska North Slope. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -- $/bbl, with Esmeraldas Blend priced above Alaska North Slope on 0 day(s).

Alaska North Slope Crude is a medium/sour USA (Alaska) crude (31.9° API, 0.93% sulfur) and Regional (US WC) benchmark. Esmeraldas Blend Crude is a medium/sour Ecuador (Esmeraldas refinery feed) crude (28° API, 2% sulfur) and Regional (Domestic) benchmark.

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