Northwest European Gasoline Margins Rise as Crude Prices Retreat
On Friday, Northwest European gasoline refining margins increased by $1.81, reaching $32.67 per barrel. The rise followed a pullback in crude oil prices, which had briefly touched $100 per barrel in the previous session – the first time since May – amid concerns about possible shipping disruptions in the Middle East.
Trading activity on that day included the sale of 2,000 metric tons of Eurobob E5 barges on the Argus platform, with Sahara selling the cargo to Gunvor. In a separate transaction, 4,000 metric tons of Eurobob E10 barges changed hands on the Argus platform, with Trafigura selling to Varo. Additionally, Shell sold an E5 barge to Trafigura in the Platts window.
Torm, the owner of the Danish‑flagged oil products tanker Torm Innovation, announced that the vessel would sail to Asia via the Suez Canal, citing the security situation in the southern Red Sea. The announcement came after the Iran‑aligned Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, raising concerns about broader threats to global energy supplies and trade routes beyond the Gulf.
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