The Octane Challenge

Refiners are facing increasing costs for aromatic components like benzene and toluene. This is making the production of high-octane summer gasoline more expensive, which is being passed through to spot market prices.

Inventory and Demand

Recent EIA data suggests that while demand is resilient, the logistical bottlenecks in the Middle East have limited the availability of certain blending components, keeping the supply-demand balance dangerously tight.