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Crude grade comparison

Basrah Light vs Mars Blend

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 – Mars Blend spread +24.98 USD/BBL · Basrah Light premium
USA (Gulf of Mexico)

Mars Blend

$83.41USD/BBL
▲ +0.74 (+0.89%)
Class
Medium/Sour
API
30°
Sulfur
1.87%

Basrah Light Crude vs Mars Blend Crude: on July 06, 2026 Basrah Light settled at $108.39/bbl (0.00%) and Mars Blend at $83.41/bbl (+0.89%), putting Basrah Light $24.98 above Mars Blend. Basrah Light is medium/sour crude (30.5° API, 2.9% sulfur); Mars Blend is medium/sour crude (30° API, 1.87% sulfur).

Price history

Basrah Light vs Mars Blend price chart

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

  • Basrah Light Crude
  • Mars Blend Crude
30-day Basrah Light avg
$108.27
30 shared days
30-day Mars Blend avg
$104.91
30 shared days
Average spread
+3.36
Basrah Light minus Mars Blend
Days Basrah Light above
5 / 30
widest $51.67 on 2026-04-29

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

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

View as table
DateBasrah LightMars BlendSpread
15 Jun 2026-96.25-
08 Jun 2026-113.50-
04 Jun 2026-114.22-
03 Jun 2026-115.36-
02 Jun 2026-108.00-
01 Jun 2026-108.00-
29 May 2026-107.54-
21 May 2026-116.85-
20 May 2026-119.41-
18 May 2026-120.05-
13 May 2026-122.16-
12 May 2026-121.51-
11 May 2026-118.49-
27 Apr 2026-119.06-
01 Mar 2026-98.08-
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 2026108.39100.20+8.19
11 Jun 2026108.39100.20+8.19
10 Jun 2026108.39104.49+3.9
09 Jun 2026108.39110.04-1.65
05 Jun 2026108.39112.21-3.82
27 May 2026108.39109.28-0.89
22 May 2026108.39115.83-7.44
19 May 2026117.62118.64-1.02
15 May 2026117.62116.98+0.64
14 May 2026117.62121.23-3.61
07 May 2026117.62113.97+3.65
06 May 2026117.62--
05 May 2026117.62119.96-2.34
04 May 2026117.62119.96-2.34
01 May 2026117.62119.96-2.34
29 Apr 202666.77118.44-51.67
Price analysis

Highs and lows by period

PeriodBasrah LightMars Blend
HighLowRangeHighLowRange
7 Days---%---%
30 Days---%---%
90 Days---%---%
180 Days117.6273.1537.81%122.1662.1549.12%
365 Days117.6266.7743.23%122.1662.1549.12%

Range = (high − low) ÷ high.

Daily prices

Recent prices & spread

DateBasrah LightChgMars BlendChgSpread
66.770118.44-0.62-51.67
117.62+50.85119.96+1.52-2.34
117.620119.960-2.34
117.620119.960-2.34
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
  • Mars Blend Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
BL30.5°
MB30°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
BL2.9%
MB1.87%
Densityhigher = heavier
BL0.872 g/cm³
MB0.87 g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
BL9.8 cSt
MB8.5 cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
BL18 °C
MB10 °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
BL18-22%
MB20-24%
Diesel% of barrel
BL40-44%
MB40-45%
Jet fuel% of barrel
BL08-10'%
MB10-12'%
Residual fuel% of barrel
BL22-28%
MB18-22%

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

Full specification comparison

PropertyBasrah Light CrudeMars Blend CrudeBasrah Light − Mars Blend
Classification
ClassificationMedium/SourMedium/Sour
OriginIraq (Basra, Persian Gulf)USA (Gulf of Mexico)
Chemical properties
API gravity30.5° API30° API+0.5 °API
Sulfur content2.9%1.87%+1.03%
Density0.872 g/cm³0.87 g/cm³+0.002 g/cm³
Pour point18 °C10 °C+8 °C
Viscosity9.8 cSt8.5 cSt+1.3 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline18-22%20-24%-2 pts
Diesel40-44%40-45%-1 pts
Jet fuel08-10'%10-12'%-2 pts
Residual fuel22-28%18-22%+6 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisBasra (Persian Gulf) terminalsLOOP Clovelly, Louisiana
Major exchangesSOMO OSP (vs Dubai/Oman)Argus (ASCI); CME Mars Futures
Export hubAl-Amiq Terminal, Khor al-Amaya, Mina al-BakrLOOP Clovelly, Louisiana
Main destinationsAsia, EuropeUS Gulf Coast refineries
Benchmark typeRegional (Middle East)Regional (US Gulf)
Market profile
Key characteristicsIraq's flagship crude, high residual contentUS Gulf Coast benchmark, coker feedstock
Refining notesHigh residual fuel content; used in complex refineriesHigh sulfur & resid; processed in coking refineries
FAQ

Basrah Light vs Mars Blend 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 Mars Blend Crude $83.41 per barrel, so Basrah Light traded at a premium of $+24.98 over Mars Blend. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged +3.36 $/bbl, with Mars Blend priced above Basrah Light on 5 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. Mars Blend Crude is a medium/sour USA (Gulf of Mexico) crude (30° API, 1.87% sulfur) and Regional (US Gulf) benchmark.
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