She said major factors helping to increase the margin included new value-added initiatives such as a linear alkylbenzene project with a refining capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year. Continuing Opec oil exports, slow demand in China and forthcoming supply from Iran are also expected to depress global crude prices and increase refining margin indirectly, Ms Pattaralada said. "In 2015, the company expects refining margin to be in the range of $7-8 a barrel with an assumption of the crude oil price staying at $45-50 a barrel," she said. "Next year we expect crude will stay at $50-55 a barrel.