Crude grade comparison

Basrah Medium vs Kuwait Blend

Southern Iraq fields

Basrah Medium

--
--
Class
Sour
API
27°
Sulfur
2.5%
VS
Basrah Medium – Kuwait Blend spread -- · Basrah Medium premium
Burgan and other KOC fields

Kuwait Blend

--
--
Class
Sour
API
31°
Sulfur
2.5%

Basrah Medium is sour crude (27° API, 2.5% sulfur); Kuwait Blend is sour crude (31° API, 2.5% sulfur).

Crude quality

Quality & refinery yields

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

  • Basrah Medium Crude
  • Kuwait Blend Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
BM27°
KB31°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
BM2.5%
KB2.5%
Densityhigher = heavier
BM g/cm³
KB g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
BM cSt
KB cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
BM °C
KB °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
Diesel% of barrel
Jet fuel% of barrel
Residual fuel% of barrel

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 Basrah Medium Crude and Kuwait Blend Crude
PropertyBasrah Medium CrudeKuwait Blend CrudeBasrah Medium − Kuwait Blend
Classification
ClassificationSourSour
OriginSouthern Iraq fieldsBurgan and other KOC fields
Chemical properties
API gravity27° API31° API-4 °API
Sulfur content2.5%2.5%0%
Density g/cm³ g/cm³0 g/cm³
Pour point °C °C0 °C
Viscosity cSt cSt0 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline%%0 pts
Diesel%%0 pts
Jet fuel%%0 pts
Residual fuel%%0 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisFOBFOB
Major exchangesPriced via KPC official selling price vs. Oman/Dubai
Export hubBasrah Oil TerminalMina Al-Ahmadi
Main destinationsAsia, EuropeAsia
Benchmark typeKey Gulf sour benchmark component
Market profile
Key characteristicsHeavier sour Iraqi grade introduced alongside Basrah Light/Heavy splitKuwait's principal export grade
Refining notesFuel oil feedstockFull-range sour refining feedstock
FAQ

Basrah Medium vs Kuwait Blend questions

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

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Basrah Medium Crude was $ and Kuwait Blend Crude $ per barrel, so Kuwait Blend traded at a premium of $0 over Basrah Medium. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -- $/bbl, with Kuwait Blend priced above Basrah Medium on 0 day(s).

Basrah Medium Crude is a sour Southern Iraq fields crude (27° API, 2.5% sulfur) and benchmark. Kuwait Blend Crude is a sour Burgan and other KOC fields crude (31° API, 2.5% sulfur) and Key Gulf sour benchmark component benchmark.