# Oil CEOs predict split market: bearish crude, bullish fuels 2026-08-25T01:43:04+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Oil company CEOs see a split in the global oil market, with crude prices under pressure but refined fuel products set to stay strong. Shell CEO Wael Sawan described a "triple threat" squeezing the market for oil products: attacks on Russian refineries, and shipping dangers in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. The bullish view on fuels comes from reduced refining capacity due to these disruptions. While crude supply is expected to remain ample, the capacity to turn it into usable products like diesel and petrol is tightening, pushing up fuel prices. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The refining crunch Shell describes echoes a pattern seen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when sanctions and attacks reshaped global fuel trade flows. India, a major importer of crude and exporter of refined products, faces a mixed impact: lower crude costs benefit its oil marketing firms, but higher global fuel prices could widen its trade deficit. The real test is whether OPEC+ raises output later this year, which would ease crude supply further but not solve the refining bottleneck. Indian refineries with secured feedstock will gain, while those dependent on spot cargoes face margin pressure. ## Coverage - ndtvprofit.com Straight reporting of CEO comments without slant or judgment This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: crude oil, Persian Gulf, Shell, Wael Sawan Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/oil-ceos-predict-split-market-bearish-crude-bullish-fuels/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/oil-ceos-predict-split-market-bearish-crude-bullish-fuels/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/