Why Christmas Is Still a Diesel Stress Test for Energy Markets

That shows up in crack behavior. In a normal year, diesel cracks widen in the winter as logistics and heating demand overlap.Unlike gasoline, where weak consumer sentiment can soften demand, diesel consumption in late December is tied to physical throughput. Packages still move even if margins are thin. Missed deliveries turn quickly into lost sales, spoiled inventory, contractual penalties, and reputational damage. The demand is locked in by calendar and contracts, not price.Christmas matters because diese ...