Escalating global oil prices, driven by conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are significantly impacting the cost of fuels like gasoline. This article explains the complex process of transforming crude oil into usable products.

• The price of Brent crude has surpassed US$100 per barrel, a 34% increase.
• Crude oil is fractionated in sequential high-temperature columns to produce thousands of everyday products, with gasoline accounting for approximately half the volume of a traditional barrel.
• The unique geological formation of crude oil means different types require specific refinery processes, and the time lag from production to consumer product can be one to three months.