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Crude grade comparison

Basrah Light vs Arab Medium

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

Iraq (Basra, Persian Gulf)

Basrah Light

$108.39USD/BBL
■ 0.00(0.00%)
Class
Medium/Sour
API
30.5°
Sulfur
2.9%
VS
Basrah Light – Arab Medium spread +34.46 USD/BBL · Basrah Light premium
Saudi Arabia (multiple fields)

Arab Medium

$73.93USD/BBL
▲ +0.01 (+0.01%)
Class
Medium/Sour
API
31.5°
Sulfur
2.49%

Basrah Light Crude vs Arab Medium Crude: on July 06, 2026 Basrah Light settled at $108.39/bbl (0.00%) and Arab Medium at $73.93/bbl (+0.01%), putting Basrah Light $34.46 above Arab Medium. Basrah Light is medium/sour crude (30.5° API, 2.9% sulfur); Arab Medium is medium/sour crude (31.5° API, 2.49% sulfur).

Price history

Basrah Light vs Arab Medium price chart

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

  • Basrah Light Crude
  • Arab Medium Crude
30-day Basrah Light avg
$108.27
30 shared days
30-day Arab Medium avg
$99.32
30 shared days
Average spread
+8.95
Basrah Light minus Arab Medium
Days Basrah Light above
8 / 30
widest $51.28 on 2026-04-29

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

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

View as table
DateBasrah LightArab MediumSpread
08 Jun 2026-98.28-
04 Jun 2026-105.67-
03 Jun 2026-106.10-
02 Jun 2026-101.87-
01 Jun 2026-101.87-
29 May 2026-100.35-
28 May 2026-102.30-
21 May 2026-112.75-
20 May 2026-115.21-
18 May 2026-117.35-
13 May 2026-113.65-
12 May 2026-112.59-
11 May 2026-111.42-
08 May 2026-105.72-
28 Apr 2026-118.45-
27 Apr 2026-117.73-
24 Apr 2026-117.12-
06 Jul 2026108.39--
02 Jul 2026108.39--
01 Jul 2026108.39--
29 Jun 202673.15--
26 Jun 2026108.39--
25 Jun 2026108.39--
18 Jun 2026108.39--
17 Jun 2026108.39--
16 Jun 2026108.39--
12 Jun 2026108.39--
11 Jun 2026108.3990.93+17.46
10 Jun 2026108.3992.43+15.96
09 Jun 2026108.3994.77+13.62
05 Jun 2026108.39103.27+5.12
27 May 2026108.39103.52+4.87
22 May 2026108.39111.40-3.01
19 May 2026117.62115.94+1.68
15 May 2026117.62114.46+3.16
14 May 2026117.62112.82+4.8
07 May 2026117.62--
06 May 2026117.62--
05 May 2026117.62119.29-1.67
04 May 2026117.62119.29-1.67
01 May 2026117.62119.29-1.67
29 Apr 202666.77118.05-51.28
Price analysis

Highs and lows by period

PeriodBasrah LightArab Medium
HighLowRangeHighLowRange
7 Days---%---%
30 Days---%---%
90 Days---%---%
180 Days117.6273.1537.81%117.3573.0137.78%
365 Days117.6266.7743.23%119.2973.0138.8%

Range = (high − low) ÷ high.

Daily prices

Recent prices & spread

DateBasrah LightChgArab MediumChgSpread
66.770118.05-0.4-51.28
117.62+50.85119.29+1.24-1.67
117.620119.290-1.67
117.620119.290-1.67
117.620
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.

  • Basrah Light Crude
  • Arab Medium Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
BL30.5°
AM31.5°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
BL2.9%
AM2.49%
Densityhigher = heavier
BL0.872 g/cm³
AM0.87 g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
BL9.8 cSt
AM10 cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
BL18 °C
AM18 °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
BL18-22%
AM18-22%
Diesel% of barrel
BL40-44%
AM40-44%
Jet fuel% of barrel
BL08-10'%
AM10-12'%
Residual fuel% of barrel
BL22-28%
AM20-25%

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

Full specification comparison

PropertyBasrah Light CrudeArab Medium CrudeBasrah Light − Arab Medium
Classification
ClassificationMedium/SourMedium/Sour
OriginIraq (Basra, Persian Gulf)Saudi Arabia (multiple fields)
Chemical properties
API gravity30.5° API31.5° API-1 °API
Sulfur content2.9%2.49%+0.41%
Density0.872 g/cm³0.87 g/cm³+0.002 g/cm³
Pour point18 °C18 °C0 °C
Viscosity9.8 cSt10 cSt-0.2 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline18-22%18-22%0 pts
Diesel40-44%40-44%0 pts
Jet fuel08-10'%10-12'%-2 pts
Residual fuel22-28%20-25%+3 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisBasra (Persian Gulf) terminalsRas Tanura, Jubail
Major exchangesSOMO OSP (vs Dubai/Oman)Saudi OSP
Export hubAl-Amiq Terminal, Khor al-Amaya, Mina al-BakrRas Tanura, Jubail
Main destinationsAsia, EuropeAsia-Pacific, Europe
Benchmark typeRegional (Middle East)Regional/Global
Market profile
Key characteristicsIraq's flagship crude, high residual contentSaudi Arabia medium sour, balanced yields
Refining notesHigh residual fuel content; used in complex refineriesBalanced refinery feedstock
FAQ

Basrah Light vs Arab Medium questions

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

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July 06, 2026 Basrah Light Crude was $108.39 and Arab Medium Crude $73.93 per barrel, so Basrah Light traded at a premium of $+34.46 over Arab Medium. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged +8.95 $/bbl, with Arab Medium priced above Basrah Light on 8 day(s).

Basrah Light Crude is a medium/sour Iraq (Basra, Persian Gulf) crude (30.5° API, 2.9% sulfur) and Regional (Middle East) benchmark. Arab Medium Crude is a medium/sour Saudi Arabia (multiple fields) crude (31.5° API, 2.49% sulfur) and Regional/Global benchmark.
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