Gross margin is one common measure of refinery margin or economic performance.

Gross margin is typically calculated per barrel of crude oil processed and is the difference between the value of the products produced and the cost of the crude oil and other feed stocks used to produce them.

Typically gross margin does not account for other costs such as energy, chemicals/catalysts, labor, materials, or other fixed costs. However, sometimes the fuel generated by the refinery will be included in the product value in gross margin, and then also included in the energy cost when calculating variable cash margin. This has the effect of inflating the gross margin measure.

Gross margin is the metric most useful in assessing the direct effect of market conditions on refinery economics, separate from the effects of operational performance.