Argus Group Three RBOB
Argus recently launched a calculated assessment for reformulated gasoline in Group Three. This move comes following recent changes that were made in gasoline specifications for the Denver, Colorado, area in 2024.
Summertime conventional gasoline sales in Denver, Colorado ended on 7 November 2023 when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated reformulated gasoline for the metropolitan area during the summer season. The shift in specifications was first announced by the EPA ruling in November 2022 when it found the region was not meeting federal ozone standards. Reformulated gasoline burns cleaner than its conventional counterpart but is also a more expensive fuel to produce.
For the winter months, Denver gasoline prices will likely change little from years past. The Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) levels for reformulated gasoline will likely closely mimic those seen in Group Three’s conventional gasoline market for the southern portion of the midcontinent.
But come summer – which is defined as 1 June through 15 September – Denver area retailers will be required to sell 7.4 RVP reformulated gasoline, as opposed to a prior requirement of 7.8 RVP conventional fuel. This is expected to widen Denver's premium to conventional prices in nearby regions.
Denver reformulated gasoline's premium to sub-octane gasoline prices in adjacent states such as Oklahoma and Kansas should be similar to spreads between Gulf coast CBOB and Gulf coast RBOB. Denver's reformulated gasoline supply will come from a combination of shipments from the midcontinent and Gulf coast markets, as well as from Suncor's 103,000 b/d refinery in nearby Commerce City, Colorado.
Group Three RBOB Methodology
Prices for Regular RBOB are published year-round for 10,000 bl on a fob Tulsa, Oklahoma basis.
Prices are calculated by applying the spread between the prompt Argus Regular Texas Destination RBOB and Regular Colonial CBOB from the US Gulf coast markets to the respective prompt Magellan suboctane V grade price. The use of the spread value mitigates the end-of-summer shift in Colonial RVP specifications.
Your Go-To Source for Reliable Road Fuel Prices
As a trusted source in the industry, Argus delivers accurate, timely pricing for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, RINs, ethanol, and more. Our data equips buyers, sellers, and refiners with the precision necessary to operate confidently in the dynamic market.
Explore our services and discover how we can support your business in mastering market dynamics.
Author: Paul Dahlgren, Editor, Refined Products Americas – Gasoline Markets
Spotlight content
Related news
Kuwait reports drone strikes at airport fuel tanks
Kuwait reports drone strikes at airport fuel tanks
Dubai, 8 March (Argus) — Two fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport were targeted in a drone attack early on Sunday, causing a fire and damage but no casualties, authorities said. The tanks are operated by Kuwait Aviation Fuelling (Kafco), the airport's sole jet fuel supplier, which sources the fuel through pipelines from state-owned KNPC's 346,000 b/d Mina al-Ahmadi and 454,000 b/d Mina Abdullah refineries. Kafco supplies more than 1bn litres/yr (17,000 b/d) of fuel to commercial airlines, military flights and government agencies operating at the airport. There was unspecified damage to property but no injuries were reported in initial assessments, state-owned news agency Kuna cited authorities as saying. Earlier on Sunday, Kuwait's armed forces said air defences had intercepted three ballistic missiles that entered the country's airspace and responded to a wave of drones, including those that directly struck the airport fuel tanks. The airport strike follows a previous drone-related incident in Kuwait on 28 February, when debris from an intercepted drone landed near Shuaiba port. US and Israeli attacks on Iran starting on 28 February have triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran on targets across the Mideast Gulf, including key energy facilities. Kuwait's state-owned oil firm KPC said on 7 March that it had begun reducing crude production and refinery operations after oil exports were effectively halted by the war. It issued a force majeure on crude and refined product exports later the same day. The headquarters of the Public Institution for Social Security in Kuwait was targeted in a separate incident early on Sunday, causing material damage to the building, the institution said. By Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Israel strikes Tehran fuel storage terminals
Israel strikes Tehran fuel storage terminals
Houston, 7 March (Argus) — Israel's military said it struck several fuel storage facilities in Tehran that Iran uses to operate military infrastructure. The "significant strike" constitutes an additional layer in deepening the damage to Iranian military infrastructure, the Israeli Air Force said Saturday on social media. "The Israel Defense Forces will continue to act forcefully with the aim of broadly harming the regime and removing threats to the State of Israel," the post said. US president Donald Trump on Saturday threatened further military strikes against Iran in the war that began a week ago, saying Tehran had "apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors" after coming under sustained US and Israeli attacks. Iran would be hit "very hard" again as additional targets are under consideration, Trump said on social media. Trump's remarks came hours after Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would halt attacks on neighboring countries, unless attacks against Iran originated from their territory. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kuwait cuts crude output on Hormuz disruption: Update
Kuwait cuts crude output on Hormuz disruption: Update
Updates with force majeure notice London, 7 March (Argus) — Kuwait's state-owned oil firm KPC has started to reduce crude output and refinery runs after oil exports were effectively halted by the war in the Middle East, the company said. Tanker traffic through the strait — the main route for Mideast Gulf crude exports — has almost come to a standstill since the US and Israel began launching air strikes on Iran on 28 February. Tehran has responded by attacking other countries in the region, including targeting oil and gas infrastructure and shipping. Opec member Kuwait, which produced 2.59mn b/d of crude in February according to Argus , is entirely dependent on Hormuz for its exports. A prolonged disruption would wipe out most of this output because of storage limitations. KPC also issued a force majeure notice on its crude and refined products exports, according to a 7 March statement seen by Argus . Such notices protect companies from breach-of-contract penalties when they are unable to deliver to their customers due to events outside of their control. Kuwait exported about 1.9mn b/d of crude and 860,000 b/d of refined products through the strait of Hormuz in 2025, according to Kpler. KPC said the "precautionary" measures were a response to "ongoing aggression" by Iran against Kuwait and "threats against shipping through the strait of Hormuz." KPC said Kuwait's domestic market needs remained fully secured. The company did not provide details on current output but said it was ready to restore production once conditions allow. Kuwait is the second Mideast Gulf country after Iraq to confirm production shutdowns because of the war. Upstream shutdowns are also expected in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran should the war continue. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have crude pipelines that can bypass the strait of Hormuz, but these outlets would only partially offset the loss of the waterway. The war is also increasingly threatening the region's oil and gas upstream infrastructure. Saudi Arabia said earlier on Saturday that its air defences intercepted 20 drones launched in five waves toward Saudi state-controlled Aramco's 1mn b/d Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert. Saudi Arabia's 250,000 b/d offshore Berri field also suffered a "minor impact" following an attack, a source close to the matter said on Saturday. Qatar has already shut down its massive LNG production facilities after being attacked. There appears to be no end in sight to the war, with US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowing to hit Iran "very hard" again and that additional targets were now under consideration. By Aydin Calik, Nader Itayim and Cara Wong Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kuwait cuts crude output after Hormuz disruption
Kuwait cuts crude output after Hormuz disruption
London, 7 March (Argus) — Kuwait's state-owned oil firm KPC has started to reduce crude output and refinery runs after oil exports were effectively halted by the war in the Middle East, the company said. Tanker traffic through the strait — the main route for Mideast Gulf crude exports — has almost come to a standstill since the US and Israel began launching air strikes on Iran on 28 February. Tehran has responded by attacking other countries in the region, including targeting oil and gas infrastructure and shipping. Opec member Kuwait, which produced 2.59mn b/d of crude in February according to Argus, is entirely dependent on Hormuz for its exports. A prolonged disruption would wipe out most of this output because of storage limitations. Kuwait exported about 1.9mn b/d of crude and 860,000 b/d of refined products through the strait of Hormuz in 2025, according to Kpler. KPC said the "precautionary" measures were a response to "ongoing aggression" by Iran against Kuwait and "threats against shipping through the strait of Hormuz." KPC said Kuwait's domestic market needs remained fully secured. The company did not provide details on current output but said it was ready to restore production once conditions allow. Kuwait is the second Mideast Gulf country after Iraq to confirm production shutdowns because of the war. Upstream shutdowns are also expected in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran should the war continue. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have crude pipelines that can bypass the strait of Hormuz, but these outlets would only partially offset the loss of the waterway. The war is also increasingly threatening the region's oil and gas upstream infrastructure. Saudi Arabia said earlier on Saturday that its air defences intercepted 20 drones launched in five waves toward Saudi state-controlled Aramco's 1mn b/d Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert. Saudi Arabia's 250,000 b/d offshore Berri field also suffered a "minor impact" following an attack, a source close to the matter said on Saturday. Qatar has already shut down its massive LNG production facilities after being attacked. There appears to be no end in sight to the war, with US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowing to hit Iran "very hard" again and that additional targets were now under consideration. By Aydin Calik and Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.