As usual, Matt Simmons pointed out the difference in transit time, long before I did.

When I read that part above, the thought that struck me was hurricanes and not just from the title. That is, if V&M are not exporting as much to the U.S. and more is coming from the Persian Gulf, does this mean the effects from some sorts of of unplanned refinery shut-downs are going to have a bigger lag time before things are running smoothly again? I live in Atlanta and can remember after hurricane Katrina that a few people didn't come into work for a day or two because of short-term shortages in gasoline.