{
  "id": 3172272,
  "title": "US refiners face big stress test as global crisis looms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/us-refiners-face-big-stress-test-as-global-crisis-looms",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T06:16:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/us-refiners-face-historic-stress-test-as-global-crisis-looms/articleshow/133453286.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. refineries have been operating at near maximum capacity for an extended period, driven by the Iran war, to capture increased profits. However, this approach could lead to severe consequences. Many U.S. refineries have postponed routine maintenance to maximize output, increasing the risk of equipment failures. This situation has global implications, as the U.S. plays a crucial role in the global fuel market. The past six months have been a record-breaking period for U.S. refiners, with average margins exceeding $50 per barrel since the war began. Major refiners like Valero, Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum, and Exxon Mobil reported record or near-record earnings. However, the question remains: how long can this high-performance state last before something breaks?",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}