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Crude grade comparison

Arab Light vs Basrah Light

Price, Arab Light spread, quality and refinery yields side by side. Updated .

Saudi Arabia (Ghawar, onshore)

Arab Light

$75.68USD/BBL
▼ -31.53 (-41.66%)
Class
Medium/Sour
API
33°
Sulfur
1.7%
VS
Arab Light – Basrah Light spread -32.71 USD/BBL · Arab Light premium
Iraq (Basra, Persian Gulf)

Basrah Light

$108.39USD/BBL
■ 0.00(0.00%)
Class
Medium/Sour
API
30.5°
Sulfur
2.9%

Arab Light Crude vs Basrah Light Crude: on July 06, 2026 Arab Light settled at $75.68/bbl (-41.66%) and Basrah Light at $108.39/bbl (0.00%), putting Basrah Light $32.71 above Arab Light. Arab Light is medium/sour crude (33° API, 1.7% sulfur); Basrah Light is medium/sour crude (30.5° API, 2.9% sulfur).

Price history

Arab Light vs Basrah Light price chart

Daily assessed prices in USD per barrel and the spread between them.

  • Arab Light Crude
  • Basrah Light Crude
30-day Arab Light avg
$102.26
30 shared days
30-day Basrah Light avg
$108.27
30 shared days
Average spread
-6.01
Arab Light minus Basrah Light
Days Arab Light above
7 / 30
widest $53.03 on 2026-04-29

Arab Light – Basrah Light spread $/bbl · above zero: Arab Light premium · below zero: Basrah Light premium

Free view: last 30 days. Gaps mark days with no assessment. Subscribe for longer history and Excel export.

View as table
DateArab LightBasrah LightSpread
06 Jul 2026-108.39-
02 Jul 2026-108.39-
01 Jul 2026-108.39-
29 Jun 2026-73.15-
26 Jun 2026-108.39-
25 Jun 2026-108.39-
18 Jun 2026-108.39-
17 Jun 2026-108.39-
16 Jun 2026-108.39-
12 Jun 2026-108.39-
11 Jun 2026-108.39-
10 Jun 202694.18108.39-14.21
09 Jun 202696.52108.39-11.87
08 Jun 2026100.03--
05 Jun 2026105.02108.39-3.37
04 Jun 2026107.32--
03 Jun 2026107.85--
02 Jun 2026103.73--
01 Jun 2026103.62--
29 May 2026102.10--
28 May 2026104.05--
27 May 2026107.21108.39-1.18
22 May 2026113.15108.39+4.76
21 May 2026114.03--
19 May 2026117.69117.62+0.069999999999993
15 May 2026116.21117.62-1.41
14 May 2026114.57117.62-3.05
13 May 2026115.40--
08 May 2026107.47--
07 May 2026109.23117.62-8.39
06 May 2026121.04117.62+3.42
05 May 2026121.04117.62+3.42
04 May 2026121.29117.62+3.67
01 May 2026121.29117.62+3.67
29 Apr 2026119.8066.77+53.03
28 Apr 2026119.80--
27 Apr 2026119.48--
24 Apr 2026118.87--
20 Apr 2026114.20--
13 Apr 2026113.25--
01 Mar 2026121.29--
Price analysis

Highs and lows by period

PeriodArab LightBasrah Light
HighLowRangeHighLowRange
7 Days---%---%
30 Days---%---%
90 Days---%---%
180 Days117.6974.7636.48%117.6273.1537.81%
365 Days121.2974.7638.36%117.6266.7743.23%

Range = (high − low) ÷ high.

Daily prices

Recent prices & spread

DateArab LightChgBasrah LightChgSpread
121.290
113.250
114.20+0.95
118.87+4.67
119.48+0.61
Full daily history for both grades since 2019 is available to subscribers.Subscribe now
Crude quality

Quality & refinery yields

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

  • Arab Light Crude
  • Basrah Light Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
AL33°
BL30.5°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
AL1.7%
BL2.9%
Densityhigher = heavier
AL0.86 g/cm³
BL0.872 g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
AL12 cSt
BL9.8 cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
AL15 °C
BL18 °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
AL20-24%
BL18-22%
Diesel% of barrel
AL42-46%
BL40-44%
Jet fuel% of barrel
AL10-12'%
BL08-10'%
Residual fuel% of barrel
AL20-25%
BL22-28%

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

Full specification comparison

PropertyArab Light CrudeBasrah Light CrudeArab Light − Basrah Light
Classification
ClassificationMedium/SourMedium/Sour
OriginSaudi Arabia (Ghawar, onshore)Iraq (Basra, Persian Gulf)
Chemical properties
API gravity33° API30.5° API+2.5 °API
Sulfur content1.7%2.9%-1.2%
Density0.86 g/cm³0.872 g/cm³-0.012 g/cm³
Pour point15 °C18 °C-3 °C
Viscosity12 cSt9.8 cSt+2.2 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline20-24%18-22%+2 pts
Diesel42-46%40-44%+2 pts
Jet fuel10-12'%08-10'%+2 pts
Residual fuel20-25%22-28%-3 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisRas Tanura, YanbuBasra (Persian Gulf) terminals
Major exchangesSaudi OSP (vs Oman/Dubai); ICESOMO OSP (vs Dubai/Oman)
Export hubRas Tanura (KSA)Al-Amiq Terminal, Khor al-Amaya, Mina al-Bakr
Main destinationsAsia-Pacific, EuropeAsia, Europe
Benchmark typeGlobal (export)Regional (Middle East)
Market profile
Key characteristicsSaudi Arabia's flagship crude, OPEC referenceIraq's flagship crude, high residual content
Refining notesSignificant residuum yield; requires crackingHigh residual fuel content; used in complex refineries
FAQ

Arab Light vs Basrah Light questions

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

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July 06, 2026 Arab Light Crude was $75.68 and Basrah Light Crude $108.39 per barrel, so Basrah Light traded at a premium of $32.71 over Arab Light. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -6.01 $/bbl, with Basrah Light priced above Arab Light on 7 day(s).

Arab Light Crude is a medium/sour Saudi Arabia (Ghawar, onshore) crude (33° API, 1.7% sulfur) and Global (export) benchmark. Basrah Light Crude is a medium/sour Iraq (Basra, Persian Gulf) crude (30.5° API, 2.9% sulfur) and Regional (Middle East) benchmark.
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