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The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shocked the entire global crude oil and fuels system and pushed up prices everywhere, including in the United States. The United States is better positioned than most because we produce and refine a large share of our own energy, but prices are set in a global market, so U.S. consumers still feel the impact.

With the conflict in Iran causing massive shifts in global energy markets, it's important to remember global supply and demand forces (for both crude oil and refined products) are just one factor of many — albeit a huge one — impacting the prices drivers see at the pump. So, let's walk through all that goes into the price of gasoline.

AFPM is advancing how the refining and petrochemical industries approach safety training by combining immersive technologies with practical, scenario-based learning. Through its Immersive Learning and Training Committee, AFPM brings people together to develop new tools using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality — technologies that help improve safety, boost performance and optimize training time across all safety disciplines.

Working at height is a reality in refining and petrochemical operations — but serious injuries and fatalities don’t have to be. By sharing knowledge, reinforcing best practices and keeping fall prevention top of mind, the industry continues to strengthen its commitment to protecting workers.

Across the petrochemical industry, companies are recognizing that building a circular economy for plastics isn’t a solo endeavor — it’s a collective mission. Through strategic partnerships, manufacturers are taking a comprehensive approach to increasing recycling and tackling hard-to-recycle materials across sectors.

Are you glued to the TV for the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy? We absolutely are, and as we root for Team USA to win it all, we can’t help but notice how petrochemicals are essential to the Games.

Since TSCA directly affects a company’s ability to make, import, sell and use chemicals, it has implications for entire American supply chains and interstate commerce.

Pay close attention as we continue diving into Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) costs, because $770 per gallon is what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering having you pay next year for every extra gallon of corn ethanol that might get blended BECAUSE of the RFS.

The 2026-2027 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency can only be met if the United States significantly INCREASES imports of foreign biofuels and feedstocks. In short, the RFS proposal is at odds with the President’s ‘energy dominance’ agenda.