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Refinery yield is the volumetric split of crude into products. Light product yield — gasoline plus diesel and jet — is the key value driver, since those streams carry the highest margins. Volumetric yields often sum above 100% because cracking and reforming reduce average density, an effect known as processing gain.
Refinery yield
Product volume = crude charged x product yield %; light product yield = gasoline % + diesel and jet %
Conversion units break heavy molecules into lighter, less dense ones, so total product volume exceeds crude volume even though mass is conserved. Processing gain is typically 2-6%.
Crude quality and refinery configuration. A simple hydroskimming refinery on heavy crude yields mostly fuel oil; a complex coking and hydrocracking refinery converts nearly everything to light products.