Galp adds to European refining optimism
Portuguese refiner reports stronger Q4 economics
Portugal’s Galp saw its Q4 2021 refining margin improve to $5.60/bl in the fourth quarter of 2021, up by 37pc quarter-on-quarter and by 250pc compared with just $1.60/bl in the final quarter of 2020. And its improved downstream performance appears to be part of a trend, with other European refiners to have posted Q4 numbers thus far also reporting higher margins (see Fig.1). Spain’s Repsol reported its marker having risen to $4.40/bl over the last quarter, similar to the $4.50/bl achieved by Poland’s PKN Orlen. Shell’s Q4 numbers show a similar trend, but at higher levels, with its most recent refining margin at $6.55/bl. Given the major’s more global focus, that could point to European refi
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy






