Basrah Medium
--
--
- Class
- Sour
- API
- 27°
- Sulfur
- 2.5%
Crude grade comparison
Basrah Medium vs West Texas Sour
VS
Basrah Medium – West Texas Sour spread
-- · Basrah Medium premium
West Texas Sour
--
--
- Class
- Sour
- API
- 34.5°
- Sulfur
- 1.8%
Basrah Medium is sour crude (27° API, 2.5% sulfur); West Texas Sour is sour crude (34.5° API, 1.8% sulfur).
Crude quality
Quality & refinery yields
How the two crudes differ in the barrel. Each property uses its own scale.
- Basrah Medium Crude
- West Texas Sour Crude
Physical & chemical properties
API gravityhigher = lighter
BM27°
WTS34.5°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
BM2.5%
WTS1.8%
Densityhigher = heavier
BM g/cm³
WTS g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
BM cSt
WTS cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
BM °C
WTS °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
| Property | Basrah Medium Crude | West Texas Sour Crude | Basrah Medium − West Texas Sour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | |||
| Classification | Sour | Sour | |
| Origin | Southern Iraq fields | Permian Basin, West Texas | |
| Chemical properties | |||
| API gravity | 27° API | 34.5° API | -7.5 °API |
| Sulfur content | 2.5% | 1.8% | +0.7% |
| Density | g/cm³ | g/cm³ | 0 g/cm³ |
| Pour point | °C | °C | 0 °C |
| Viscosity | cSt | cSt | 0 cSt |
| Typical refinery yields | |||
| Gasoline | % | % | 0 pts |
| Diesel | % | % | 0 pts |
| Jet fuel | % | % | 0 pts |
| Residual fuel | % | % | 0 pts |
| Trading & logistics | |||
| Delivery basis | FOB | FOB | |
| Major exchanges | |||
| Export hub | Basrah Oil Terminal | Midland/Cushing/Gulf Coast | |
| Main destinations | Asia, Europe | US Gulf Coast refiners | |
| Benchmark type | |||
| Market profile | |||
| Key characteristics | Heavier sour Iraqi grade introduced alongside Basrah Light/Heavy split | Medium sour US domestic benchmark-adjacent grade | |
| Refining notes | Fuel oil feedstock | Full-range refining feedstock | |
FAQ
Basrah Medium vs West Texas Sour questions
The spread, the quality gap and why each grade is a benchmark.
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Basrah Medium Crude was $ and West Texas Sour Crude $ per barrel, so West Texas Sour traded at a premium of $0 over Basrah Medium. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -- $/bbl, with West Texas Sour 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. West Texas Sour Crude is a sour Permian Basin, West Texas crude (34.5° API, 1.8% sulfur) and benchmark.
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