Octane blending
Overview
Demand for high octane components vary throughout the year depending on seasonality, premium gasoline market share, and refinery performance. Stricter gasoline standards also contribute to demand for high octane components.
Among the list of high-octane components are reformate, alkylate, MTBE, ETBE, toluene, xylenes, ethyl benzene, and others. Some of these components primarily see demand from the chemical market but could be diverted to the gasoline pool if there are returns in that segment.
Each blendstock has specific octane rating and rvp content that determines its value in the gasoline pool. Gasoline blenders will look at market prices for each of the octanes and see how it relates to the value in the gasoline pool. In the summer of 2023, high volumes of ethylbenzene were diverted to the gasoline instead of the production of styrene, as styrene prices fell below ethylbenzene blend value.
MTBE is a high-octane component for gasoline blending, but only used in some countries. MTBE demand has been led by growth in Asia, Middle East, and Latin Markets. Other regions have focused on increased biofuel usage which includes ethanol and ETBE.
Argus’ experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest octane blending news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global octane blending industry.
South Korea approves Hyundai Chemical, Lotte merger
South Korea approves Hyundai Chemical, Lotte merger
Singapore, 25 February (Argus) — South Korea's trade, industry and resource ministry (Motir) has approved chemical producers Hyundai Chemical and Lotte Chemical Daesan's restructuring plans along with a support package on 25 February. Hyundai Chemical and Lotte Chemical jointly applied to merge their plants in November 2025 . Hyundai Chemical is a joint venture between Hyundai Oilbank and Lotte Chemical. This is the first project approved under South Korea's government-led rationalisation efforts across the Daesan, Ulsan and Yeosu petrochemical complexes. These efforts were in response to the industry's prolonged losses since 2021, driven by rapid capacity expansions, particularly in China. Under the approved plans, Lotte Chemical will merge its Daesan petrochemical plant with Hyundai Chemical, integrating the naphtha cracking centre (NCC) and downstream units. Parent companies Lotte Chemical and Hyundai Oilbank will invest 600bn Korean won ($420mn) each and will share equal ownership of the newly integrated corporation. The restructuring is expected to take three years, during which Lotte Chemical will suspend its 1.1mn t/yr ethylene cracker in Daesan, and reduce operations of low-profit downstream facilities to curb oversupply in the Daesan petrochemical complex. The newly integrated corporation aims to focus on producing higher value-added and eco-friendly products instead of general-purpose products, Motir said. The South Korean government will also provide a customised support package worth W2.1 trillion, which will include financial, taxation, regulatory, cost structure improvement, employment, and technology development assistance for the firms' restructuring implementation. But the specific financial measures are to be finalised by the Korean Development Bank after consultations with institutional creditors. Other key producers including YNCC, GS Caltex, LG Chem, S-Oil, SKGC, and KPIC also submitted their business restructuring proposals in December 2025, and are under government review. The submitted plans would meet the collective target to reduce the nation's naphtha cracking capacity by 2.7mn-3.7mn t, according to the ministry. But revisions to the plans have been requested, and finalised drafts for restructuring plans for the Yeosu and Ulsan petrochemical complexes are expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026, said market sources close to South Korean cracker operators. By Angie Liew Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Blue Circle Olefins partners with Chane on MTO unit
Blue Circle Olefins partners with Chane on MTO unit
London, 13 February (Argus) — Netherlands-based Blue Circle Olefins has signed an agreement with European storage and logistics provider Chane to site its planned methanol-to-olefins (MTO) production facility at Chane's Terminal Nieuwe Maas in the Port of Rotterdam. The companies said Chane will also provide logistics services to the MTO plant and storage facilities for renewable methanol feedstocks. The 200,000t MTO facility will manufacture ethylene and propylene from green methanol, made from mixed plastic waste or agricultural and forestry residue. The facility is scheduled to start production by 2030. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU sets definitive duties on Taiwanese and Korean ABS
EU sets definitive duties on Taiwanese and Korean ABS
London, 13 February (Argus) — The European Commission has imposed definitive duties on imports of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) from Taiwan and South Korea into the EU. The duties are set on a cif basis at the EU border and typically apply for five years. South Korea's LG Chem and Lotte Chemical received duties of 7.5pc and 5.2pc, respectively, while other unnamed Korean producers were assigned a 7.5pc rate. The duty for LG Chem is 3.8 percentage points higher than the provisional level, while Lotte Chemical's declined by 0.6 percentage points. Duties for other unnamed Korean companies rose by 1.7 percentage points. Taiwanese firms Chimei and Grand Pacific Petrochemical were each assigned a 10.9pc duty, up by 0.1 percentage points from the provisional level. Formosa Chemical and Fibre received the highest rate at 21.7pc, unchanged from the provisional duty. Duties on other unnamed Taiwanese producers also remained unchanged at 21.7pc. The definitive measures follow provisional duties introduced in August 2025. Several producers told Argus the provisional duties did not provide enough of a deterrent to curb imports. During the investigation period, when imports had to be registered with EU customs, the commission found that volumes rose by 6pc on a monthly average basis before provisional duties were imposed. Import prices increased by 2-3pc in the same period. On this basis, it concluded that higher inflows at slightly firmer prices were not sufficient grounds to apply definitive duties retroactively. The definitive rates will apply from 12 February 2026. South Korea and Taiwan are Europe's two largest ABS suppliers. Europe imported about 195,000t of ABS from the two countries during January-November 2025, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT). Imports in 2025 were broadly in line with previous years, averaging around 200,000 t/yr since 2021. The introduction of provisional duties in the third quarter did not appear to affect volumes, with third-quarter imports up by about 2pc on the year. Mid-fourth-quarter 2025 figures were roughly half of full fourth-quarter imports in 2024. By Sebastian du Plessis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
PE, PP margins hit decade low: LyondellBasell
PE, PP margins hit decade low: LyondellBasell
Houston, 30 January (Argus) — Low polyethylene (PE) inventories in the US will drive integrated margin recovery this year after 2025 had the lowest US polyolefins margins in a decade, LyondellBasell said today. North American integrated-PE margins averaged $580/t in 2025, putting them $250/t below the historical average of $830/t. North American polypropylene (PP) margins were $40/t, seven times lower than the historical average of $290, according to LyondellBasell. Olefins production volumes fell in the fourth quarter because of planned and unplanned facility maintenance. Inclement weather in January further disrupted production through in beginning of 2026. LyondellBasell expects PE prices to rise in the next quarter as buyers seek to replenish diminished stocks. The company expects an operating rate of 85pc of its olefins and polyolefins Americas assets, up from 75pc last quarter, in anticipation of this increased demand. Demand for PP remains low as the durable goods market is showing no sign of recovery. Interest rates cuts and softening inflation are expected to improve demand, but consumer confidence is lagging. Oversupply in China is further dragging down margins in the global market. "[Last year] was another exceptionally challenging year," said chief executive Peter Vanacker. "Industry margins remaining deeply depressed across all of our core businesses. Industry margins were approximately 45pc below historical averages, even worse than the already difficult conditions we saw in 2024." The company expects modest improvement in the first quarter due to the higher PE prices as well as improved seasonal demand and a resilient packaging market. By Maya Porter Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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