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.
Brazil’s inflation slows to 4.44pc in July
Brazil’s inflation slows to 4.44pc in July
Sao Paulo, 11 August (Argus) — Brazil's inflation slowed to an annual 4.44pc in July, with lower housing costs helping to offset higher electricity bills. The consumer price index IPCA decelerated from 4.64pc in June and 4.72pc in May, national statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday. The latest decline puts inflation within the central bank's target range of 1.50-4.50pc. Food and beverage costs, which weigh heavily on the index, contributed the most to the monthly deceleration in the IPCA, decelerating to an annual 3.4pc in July from 3.82pc in June. Lower prices for coffee, fruits and vegetables largely drove the declines, IBGE said. Housing costs was the largest monthly contributors to the gain in the index in July, with its inflation accelerating to an annual 5.93pc from 5.85pc a month earlier, mostly thanks to electricity bills and tax readjustments for power supply in some southern states. Transport costs slowed to an annual 3.64pc in July from 3.95pc in June. Lower prices for ethanol, diesel, gasoline and compressed natural gas weighed on motor fuel costs, despite an increase in airfares The annual gain for July was down from 5.23pc in July 2025 . The central bank expects inflation to end 2026 at 5.03pc, above its 1.5-4.5pc expected range. It also expects inflation at 4.22pc for 2027 and 3.8pc for 2028. Brazil's central bank lowered its target rate to 14pc in its latest meeting , held last month, a fourth such quarter point cut since March after holding it at 15pc since mid-2025 to stem inflation. By Mariana Funchal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iran gasoline supply hit as war cuts South Pars output
Iran gasoline supply hit as war cuts South Pars output
Dubai, 11 August (Argus) — Iran's gasoline output has come under pressure after recent US-Israeli attacks cut condensate output at South Pars by around 230,000 b/d, according to NIORDC. The giant offshore field, which Iran shares with Qatar, feeds roughly 60pc of the country's gasoline production, head of state-owned refining company NIORDC, Mohammad Sadegh Azimifar said on 10 August. Iran's refining, fuel storage and transportation infrastructure sustained around $1bn of damage in the attacks, Azimifar said. The attacks destroyed 52 of the 97 tanks at fuel depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces, wiping out around 1bn litres of storage capacity and knocking out some distribution facilities. The strikes have hit refining capacity directly. The Lavan refinery produced about 3mn l/d of gasoline before the war, but now operates at roughly half that following drone attacks in April, according to state-owned news agency Irna. Together with the South Pars condensate loss, the damage has pulled domestic gasoline output lower just as demand climbs. Iran's maximum supply capacity for gasoline and diesel is about 110mn l/d each, against daily gasoline demand of above 130mn l/d and diesel demand of 120mn l/d. The deficit widened during peak holiday periods, when consumption jumped to around 10pc above the annual average. Iran could require around five to seven MR-sized gasoline cargoes, equivalent to roughly 50,000-55,000 b/d in August, to cover the widening supply deficit , according to market participants. Meeting that requirement has become difficult as import routes come under strain. Much of Iran's fuel imports arrived via the southern route, but the blockade has now restricted those flows, Azimifar said. The domestic distribution network has been hit too, with pumping stations at Rey that move products from southern Iran towards Tehran and the north "completely destroyed", he said. Despite the damage, Iran is pressing ahead with delayed downstream projects, with the Mehr refinery and a gasoline quality upgrade at the Tehran refinery both due on line by the end of the year, Azimifar said. By Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Europe naphtha imports rise on Med, US flows
Europe naphtha imports rise on Med, US flows
London, 5 August (Argus) — European naphtha imports rose in July as arrivals from Mediterranean and north African suppliers increased and shipments from the US reached their highest since August 2025. Imports into Europe totalled 1.74mn t in July, up from 1.25mn t in June, Vortexa data show. Algeria was the largest supplier, at 397,400t, its highest monthly volume since May 2025. Italy supplied 264,700t, Spain 212,300t and the US 160,800t. Algerian flows may have been supported by changes in export routing. Kpler data show no Algerian naphtha cargoes transited the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, en route to Asia in July, compared with 132,000t in June. Algerian exports to Asia via the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope rose to 441,000t from 292,000t. Red Sea security risks and longer voyage times may have encouraged some sellers to keep more supply in Europe. US arrivals reached 160,800t in July, the highest since August 2025, Vortexa data show. The increase followed stronger US Gulf coast export activity in June, when several cargoes were listed for discharge in Antwerp and Rotterdam. But support from the US may prove temporary. By the end of July, US-based participants said arbitrage opportunities into Europe had closed , limiting trading interest and potentially reducing arrivals in the coming months. Strong gasoline blending economics also supported naphtha demand in July. The European gasoline-naphtha spread widened to a three-year high of $341.75/t on 17 July, making naphtha more attractive as a gasoline blendstock. The margin eased to $206-220/t heading into August but remained above the 2026 year-to-date average of $159.50/t and the roughly $120/t average in 2025. European gasoline export demand added to the blending incentive. Exports to Brazil reached 420,000t in July, the highest since October 2022, Kpler data show. Most cargoes originated from the Netherlands and Belgium, while Spain also supplied significant volumes. Brazil may need more alternative gasoline supplies after Russia extended its gasoline export ban until the end of the year. Russia accounted for 38pc of Brazil's gasoline imports in June, government data show. The rise in naphtha imports came despite weak European petrochemical demand. Market participants said low Rhine water levels disrupted inland barge movements, sharply reducing naphtha flows to inland consumers. Several steam crackers cut operating rates because of logistical constraints. Some crackers were nearing minimum feasible run rates as feedstock transport challenges persisted into August, market participants told Argus . By Jide Tijani Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Low Rhine levels tighten German oil product supply
Low Rhine levels tighten German oil product supply
Hamburg, 3 August (Argus) — Low water levels on the river Rhine are tightening oil product supply in western Germany by restricting barge deliveries from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub and cutting off some inland tank farms. Water levels at the key bottleneck near Kaub fell below 0.3m last week. At this level, most barges cannot pass , limiting deliveries from ARA to tank farms along the Upper Rhine and the Main. Traders said last week that oil product supply along the Rhine had become scarce. Motor fuel supply is particularly tight. Germany is typically a net exporter of gasoline, but Rhine restrictions are also limiting movements of blending components needed for gasoline production. This is adding to pressure on finished product availability in inland markets. The restrictions are also creating a regional price split. Suppliers at the Miro consortium's 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery in southwestern Germany are facing rising oversupply, because the refinery usually loads some product on barges for delivery either upstream to Switzerland or downstream towards ARA. Both routes are currently constrained. Sellers in western Germany are raising prices in response to scarce supply, while sellers around Karlsruhe are cutting prices to clear trapped volumes, widening regional price differentials within Germany. Heating oil demand remains subdued, limiting some of the wider impact. Traders reported almost 40pc fewer traded heating oil volumes in July than in June, after higher national prices curbed buying. Ice gasoil futures rose in early July following a flare-up in US-Iran hostilities. Despite weaker spot trade, privately owned heating oil tank fill levels have risen slightly. Stocks reached a national average of 46.8pc on 30 July, up by 2.3 percentage points from a historic low on 17 May, Argus MDX data show. Warm weather is reducing heating oil consumption, but households are still putting more product into tanks than they are withdrawing, allowing stocks to recover gradually. By Natalie Müller Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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