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Crude grade comparison

Western Canadian Select vs Arab Heavy

Price, Western Canadian Select spread, quality and refinery yields side by side. Updated .

Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan)

Western Canadian Select

$56.20USD/BBL
▼ -0.14 (-0.25%)
Class
Heavy/Sour
API
20.5°
Sulfur
3.43%
VS
Western Canadian Select – Arab Heavy spread -16.38 USD/BBL · Western Canadian Select premium
Saudi Arabia (Ghawar onshore)

Arab Heavy

$72.58USD/BBL
▲ +0.01 (+0.01%)
Class
Heavy/Sour
API
27.5°
Sulfur
2.8%

Western Canadian Select Crude vs Arab Heavy Crude: on July 06, 2026 Western Canadian Select settled at $56.20/bbl (-0.25%) and Arab Heavy at $72.58/bbl (+0.01%), putting Arab Heavy $16.38 above Western Canadian Select. Western Canadian Select is heavy/sour crude (20.5° API, 3.43% sulfur); Arab Heavy is heavy/sour crude (27.5° API, 2.8% sulfur).

Price history

Western Canadian Select vs Arab Heavy price chart

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

  • Western Canadian Select Crude
  • Arab Heavy Crude
30-day Western Canadian Select avg
$77.36
30 shared days
30-day Arab Heavy avg
$95.62
30 shared days
Average spread
-18.26
Western Canadian Select minus Arab Heavy
Days Western Canadian Select above
1 / 30
widest $72.99 on 2026-05-29

Western Canadian Select – Arab Heavy spread $/bbl · above zero: Western Canadian Select premium · below zero: Arab Heavy premium

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

View as table
DateWestern Canadian SelectArab HeavySpread
11 Jun 2026-89.58-
08 May 2026-104.37-
10 Jun 202675.8591.08-15.23
09 Jun 202675.8593.42-17.57
08 Jun 202678.9596.93-17.98
05 Jun 202678.19101.92-23.73
04 Jun 202680.69104.22-23.53
03 Jun 202683.67104.75-21.08
02 Jun 202681.41100.63-19.22
01 Jun 202679.81100.52-20.71
29 May 202675.012.02+72.99
28 May 202676.55100.95-24.4
27 May 202676.33102.17-25.84
22 May 202684.25110.05-25.8
21 May 202684.00110.93-26.93
20 May 202685.91113.86-27.95
19 May 202691.80114.59-22.79
18 May 202692.03116.00-23.97
15 May 202693.07113.11-20.04
14 May 202688.82--
13 May 2026101.02112.30-11.28
12 May 202689.83111.24-21.41
11 May 202685.72110.07-24.35
07 May 202682.46106.13-23.67
06 May 202682.73117.94-35.21
05 May 202689.92--
04 May 202694.07117.94-23.87
01 May 202689.59117.94-28.35
29 Apr 202694.53116.70-22.17
28 Apr 202687.58116.70-29.12
27 Apr 202684.02116.38-32.36
24 Apr 202682.05115.77-33.72
Price analysis

Highs and lows by period

PeriodWestern Canadian SelectArab Heavy
HighLowRangeHighLowRange
7 Days---%---%
30 Days---%---%
90 Days---%---%
180 Days101.0256.244.37%1162.0298.26%
365 Days101.0256.244.37%117.942.0298.29%

Range = (high − low) ÷ high.

Daily prices

Recent prices & spread

DateWestern Canadian SelectChgArab HeavyChgSpread
82.050115.770-33.72
84.02+1.97116.38+0.61-32.36
87.58+3.56116.70+0.32-29.12
94.53+6.95116.700-22.17
89.59-4.94117.94+1.24-28.35
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.

  • Western Canadian Select Crude
  • Arab Heavy Crude

Physical & chemical properties

API gravityhigher = lighter
WCS20.5°
AH27.5°
Sulfur contenthigher = sourer
WCS3.43%
AH2.8%
Densityhigher = heavier
WCS0.96 g/cm³
AH0.88 g/cm³
Viscosityhigher = thicker
WCS200 cSt
AH12 cSt
Pour pointhigher = waxier
WCS-22 °C
AH15 °C

Typical refinery yields

Gasoline% of barrel
WCS15-20%
AH08-Oct%
Diesel% of barrel
WCS25-30%
AH20-25%
Jet fuel% of barrel
WCS05-08'%
AH08-10'%
Residual fuel% of barrel
WCS35-40%
AH40-50%

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

Full specification comparison

PropertyWestern Canadian Select CrudeArab Heavy CrudeWestern Canadian Select − Arab Heavy
Classification
ClassificationHeavy/SourHeavy/Sour
OriginCanada (Alberta, Saskatchewan)Saudi Arabia (Ghawar onshore)
Chemical properties
API gravity20.5° API27.5° API-7 °API
Sulfur content3.43%2.8%+0.63%
Density0.96 g/cm³0.88 g/cm³+0.08 g/cm³
Pour point-22 °C15 °C-37 °C
Viscosity200 cSt12 cSt+188 cSt
Typical refinery yields
Gasoline15-20%08-Oct%+20 pts
Diesel25-30%20-25%+5 pts
Jet fuel05-08'%08-10'%-2 pts
Residual fuel35-40%40-50%-10 pts
Trading & logistics
Delivery basisHardisty, Alberta; CushingRas Tanura, Yanbu
Major exchangesArgus (Hardisty WCS); ICESaudi OSP
Export hubHardisty, AlbertaRas Tanura, Yanbu
Main destinationsUS Midwest (cokers), Gulf CoastAsia (cokers), Mexico Gulf
Benchmark typeRegional (N. America)Regional (export)
Market profile
Key characteristicsBitumen blend, requires upgrading/dilution, heavy processingSaudi heavy sour, coker feedstock primary
Refining notesVery high residuum (bitumen); needs upgrading (coking)Requires complex coking/hydrocracking
FAQ

Western Canadian Select vs Arab Heavy questions

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

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July 06, 2026 Western Canadian Select Crude was $56.20 and Arab Heavy Crude $72.58 per barrel, so Arab Heavy traded at a premium of $16.38 over Western Canadian Select. Over the previous 30 shared price days the spread averaged -18.26 $/bbl, with Arab Heavy priced above Western Canadian Select on 1 day(s).

Western Canadian Select Crude is a heavy/sour Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) crude (20.5° API, 3.43% sulfur) and Regional (N. America) benchmark. Arab Heavy Crude is a heavy/sour Saudi Arabia (Ghawar onshore) crude (27.5° API, 2.8% sulfur) and Regional (export) benchmark.
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