Marathon El Paso to start FCC turnaround latter half of March
TL;DR
Marathon Petroleum's El Paso refinery will start a fluid catalytic cracking unit turnaround in late March 2026 for routine maintenance, aiming to optimize efficiency and minimize disruptions during lower demand periods. This strategic move supports long-term profitability despite expected temporary production reductions.
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Marathon El Paso to start FCC turnaround latter half of March
Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N) has announced that its El Paso refinery will initiate a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit turnaround in the latter half of March 2026, aligning with routine maintenance schedules common in the refining sector. Such turnarounds are critical for optimizing unit efficiency, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and maintaining operational reliability. The timing of the work suggests a strategic approach to minimize disruptions during periods of typically lower demand, though temporary reductions in throughput are expected during the maintenance window.
The company's recent financial performance highlights the importance of such maintenance activities. For the fourth quarter of 2025, Marathon reported a refining and marketing margin of $18.65 per barrel, reflecting a 45% year-over-year increase in U.S. refinery margins. This improvement was driven by recovering crack spreads and operational efficiencies, contributing to a core profit of $2 billion for the segment. While the El Paso turnaround may temporarily impact production capacity, the long-term goal is to sustain profitability by ensuring equipment reliability amid fluctuating market conditions.
Historically, Marathon has coordinated maintenance schedules with seasonal demand patterns, as seen in prior reports outlining planned outages in early 2024. The 2026 timeline follows a similar logic, balancing operational needs with market dynamics. Investors are advised to monitor throughput adjustments and regional supply-demand balances during the maintenance period for potential short-term volatility in output and pricing.
