Road fuels
Overview
Fuels for road transportation continue to drive the refining industry. But gasoline and diesel use is coming under increasing pressure from the introduction of low-carbon targets around the world.
Global oversupply, new regulatory measures and rapidly increasing competition for export markets are affecting refining margins. The need for accurate insight and data is more critical than ever.
Argus road fuels coverage includes price assessments and key insights into conventional fuels — gasoline, middle distillates and blending components — as well as biofuels, in each key region. Our trusted prices are delivered alongside the latest market-moving news, in-depth analysis, supply and demand dynamics, price forecasts and forward curves data.
Latest road fuels news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global road fuels industry.
Australia's Queensland fast-tracks condensate approvals
Australia's Queensland fast-tracks condensate approvals
Sydney, 8 April (Argus) — Australia's Queensland state government aims to accelerate commercial condensate production at the onshore Taroom Trough to improve long-term fuel security, given gasoil supply concerns across Australia stemming from the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz. The Queensland government plans to streamline environmental approvals and develop road and trunk infrastructure near the Taroom Trough, which is considered to have significant oil and gas potential, it announced today. It has called on the federal government to designate the project as one of national interest and assess it under the National Interest Fast-Track Assessment Pathway. The pathway would speed up environmental approvals by avoiding duplication of assessments already completed at the state level, the Queensland government said. Projects assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act typically take several years to be approved. The Taroom Trough has been inactive for about 50 years, but Shell, which is exploring parts of the field, is producing about 200 b/d of condensate. Trucks carrying condensate are now travelling to fuel supplier IOR's Eromanga refinery in western Queensland, where it is processed into diesel, mostly used in underground mining, Shell said. IOR's Eromanga refinery can process about 1,250 b/d of locally produced crude from surrounding basins. By comparison, Ampol's Lytton refinery in Brisbane has crude distillation capacity of about 109,000 b/d. Faster, more efficient approvals are critical, lobby group Australian Energy Producers said, describing the Taroom Trough as a "highly prospective basin" that could play a major role in Australia's energy future. Beach Energy, Omega and Tri-Star E&P are also exploring the Taroom Trough through a joint venture. Beach has entered the trough after being awarded a 750km² permit in the region, it said on 10 February. The Queensland plan adds to fuel security measures by federal government and a move by Western Australia to compel fuel supply chain transparency . Australia's limited refining capacity and reliance on gasoil imports from crude-constricted refineries in South Korea have led to consumer stockpiling, including by mining and agricultural consumers of gasoil. Australian importers have sourced gasoil from the US and Europe since the start of the Iran war to take advantage of lower prices in these markets compared to Asia and in order to lock in supply security. By Grace Dudley Diesel prices to Asia (A$/t) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia secures fuel into May, Asia assures supply
Australia secures fuel into May, Asia assures supply
Sydney, 7 April (Argus) — Australia has sufficient fuel stocks to last into May and has received assurances from key southeast Asian suppliers, ministers said. Australia has secured legally binding fuel supplies well into May, energy minister Chris Bowen said on 6 April, after previously indicating uncertainty around supplies at the end of April . He added that he would not over-promise regarding availability in the months ahead. Assistant trade minister Matt Thistlethwaite told Sky News on 5 April that he had discussed supply and received assurances from key import partners such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore on continued shipments. A total of 50 ships carrying fuel will arrive in Australia over the next month and the country is diversifying its suppliers , including the US, he added. Australia had 39 days' worth of gasoline, 30 days' worth of jet fuel and 29 days' worth of gasoil as of 31 March, minimum stockholding obligation data show. Gasoline and gasoil stocks were unchanged from the previous week, while jet fuel stocks were one day lower. In New Zealand, weekly stockholding increased to 61.9 days' worth of gasoline, 50.1 days' worth of jet fuel as of 1 April from 29 March. But gasoil stocks decreased by about one day. This includes vessels carrying fuel en route to New Zealand. By Grace Dudley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
European jet, diesel prices hit new all-time highs
European jet, diesel prices hit new all-time highs
London, 2 April (Argus) — Northwest European jet fuel and diesel prices surpassed $1,900/t and $1,600/t respectively on Thursday, jumping significantly to fresh all-time highs, as market participants anticipated further escalation in the Middle East over the long Easter weekend. Argus assessed cif northwest European jet fuel at $1,903.50/t on Thursday, rising sharply by almost $300/t on the day. This was over $100/t higher than the previous record of $1,794/t set on 20 March. And fob ARA diesel was assessed at $1,604/t, over $200/t higher on the day and almost $150/t more than the previous record from the same date. Middle distillate prices were supported by a rise in underlying Ice gasoil values, which also hit an all-time high of $1,569.75/t on Thursday, up by 15pc on the day. US president Trump threatened to "hit [Iran] extremely hard over the next two to three weeks" on Wednesday evening , which probably supported the futures prices, traders said. Thousands of US troops have been arriving in the Middle East, spreading fears of a ground invasion. Participants may have built their long positions before the Easter weekend, not wanting to get caught out by further escalation before the next session on 7 April, market participants said. Participants also reiterated the extreme volatility in middle distillate markets, likely contributing to Thursday's sharp price increases. Jet fuel prices fell by around $140/t the day before. The volatility has deterred ‘market marker' firms from trading as heavily, while some companies have tightened risk management rules to mitigate losses. But the thinner liquidity has only further exacerbated volatility, causing a vicious cycle. Jet fuel and diesel prices have more than doubled since the start of the war because the disruption of flows from the Mideast Gulf has jeopardised around 50pc of Europe's jet fuel imports and 15-20pc of its diesel imports. By Amaar Khan and Josh Michalowski Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kansas will not join states ensuring E15 access
Kansas will not join states ensuring E15 access
New York, 1 April (Argus) — Kansas will not move to join a group of farm states transitioning next year to a boutique summer gasoline blend, which would have ensured continued access to a higher-ethanol blend in the state. Seven Midwestern states have approval to eventually move a lower-volatility summertime fuel that would allow retailers to keep selling both typical 10pc ethanol gasoline (E10) and blends with up to 15pc ethanol (E15). Kansas governor Laura Kelly (D-Kansas), frustrated by an impasse about federal biofuel policy, said earlier this year that she would give "strong consideration" to submitting a request by 1 April to join those states starting in 2027. But much has since changed in fuel markets. The US-Israel war with Iran has sent pump prices sharply higher, and President Donald Trump's administration has tried to contain the fallout by issuing emergency waivers that streamline summertime fuel rules across the country. Those waivers allow year-round sales of E15 in areas where it would have otherwise been limited while also effectively delaying the Midwestern states' fuel change — first planned for 2025 and then for 2026 — to next year. "With the granting of the temporary E15 waiver, E15 will continue to be sold through 2026", Kelly's office said. "While the governor strongly considered the permanent opt-out, she recognizes that it would not take effect until 2027 and felt that it is a decision best left to the next administration." A new governor will take office next year in Kansas. The Clean Air Act exempts E10 from summertime smog rules that would otherwise prevent its sale but does not extend the same treatment to E15 despite similar air quality impacts. The Midwestern bloc as a workaround had won approval to opt out of the special treatment for E10, effectively putting E10 and E15 on equal footing by requiring less-volatile but costlier blendstocks for both. The farm-state governors saw the workaround as a way to ensure continued E15 access no matter how federal policy changes. But the transition also threatened higher pump prices during peak summer driving season, a political risk even before the war. Kansas deciding not to join the other opt-out states comes despite a lack of progress in Congress on permanently exempting E15 from summertime smog rules, leaving decisions around access each summer to regulators. A task force of US lawmakers has struggled for months to reach agreement on biofuel legislation that would allow E15 sales year-round, in part because some oil refiners have objected to earlier proposals that would restrict their ability to win exemptions from biofuel blend mandates. E15 is typically cheaper than E10, although the blend is not sold at the vast majority of US fuel stations. Advocates blame the lack of availability on regulatory uncertainty deterring retailers from investing in higher ethanol blends. By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Markets panic as war paralyses gulf oil and gas
Driving Discussions: Inside the Diesel Shake-Up
OTL Countdown: West Africa’s Refining & Pricing Landscape
Explore our road fuels products
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.
