5. CONTRASTS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL REFINING CENTERS

O THE GAP BETWEEN CRUDE RUNS AND CAPACITY IN THE PREVIOUS
FIGURES TELLS THE SAME STORY IN ALL AREAS. THESE SIMI-
LARITIES, HOWEVER, MASK SOME IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES:

THE SUBSTANTIAL CRUDE SUPPLIES OF THE U.S. AND THE
LARGE DOMESTIC MARKET PROTECT A LARGE FRACTION OF
CAPACITY.

ENTREPOT REFINERS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND SINGAPORE
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPOSED TO THE EFFECTS OF
FACTORS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL: FLUCTUATIONS IN CRUDE
SUPPLY AND PRICE, AND SHIFTS IN DEMAND.

THE LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR REFINERY FUEL IN THE U.S.
GIVE A SHARP ADVANTAGE IN COMPLEX REFINING PROCESSES
DEMANDING LARGE ENERGY INPUTS.

THE COUNTRIES ALL EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, CONTROL, AND SUPPORT.