

Jet fuel
Overview
Jet fuel market volatility, whether from crude prices, supply issues from refining capacity, or ongoing regulation changes, is a continual risk to your bottom line.
Having a choice in fuel pricing is the best way to mitigate risk and stay on top of market changes. Argus constructs price indexation in a way that is appropriate for each market. By doing so, market participants can align their day-to-day operations, improve management of fuel costs and directly impact their net earnings.
Jet fuel makes up more than 40% of an airline’s total operating expense. The rise in importance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from government mandates and self-regulations from airlines has a direct implication on these operating costs.
Argus helps the jet fuel market participants to make informed decisions and optimize their strategies with price assessments and information on deals done for conventional jet fuel and SAF, as well as the latest market-moving news, in-depth analysis, supply and demand dynamics, and price forecasts.
Latest jet fuel news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global jet fuel industry.
European middle distillates fall to pre-conflict levels
European middle distillates fall to pre-conflict levels
London, 25 June (Argus) — Gains in European jet fuel and diesel prices caused by the Israel-Iran conflict have entirely reversed following this week's ceasefire agreement. Front-month Ice gasoil futures — the underlying value in Argus ' European middle distillate assessments — sank to $688.25/t at close on Tuesday, 24 June, the day of the ceasefire. This was the contract's lowest settlement since 12 June, the last close before the conflict began. The contract fell by $75/t on the day on Tuesday, the largest single-day decline in 31 months. Benchmark crude basket North Sea Dated dropped by around 11pc to $68.06/bl on Tuesday, its lowest closing value since 11 June. Ice gasoil values rose to $798.50/t on 19 June, as the conflict raised fears of weaker supply from the Mideast Gulf, particularly for middle distillates. The region accounted for just under 25pc of Europe's jet fuel and diesel imports last year, according to Kpler and Vortexa. Tensions rose just as seasonal demand for jet fuel and diesel neared an annual peak in Europe, with the region relying on imports to meet demand. Market participants said the price rises were excessive, considering there had been no disruption to supply. European refining margins have also fallen, reflecting middle distillate prices' heavier falls than those for crude. Delivered cargoes of jet fuel and diesel to northwest Europe held premiums of $21.08/bl and $22.90/bl respectively to Dated, having peaked at $26.82/bl and $28.98/bl on 19 June. Cracks have averaged below $20/bl in recent months. Jet fuel margins could remain elevated in line with seasonal demand, but European diesel supply had tightened before the conflict because of weaker imports and extra demand for marine gasoil (MGO) in the Mediterranean after the start of the emissions control area. This shortness of supply has not yet fully resolved and could further support refining margins in the coming weeks. By Amaar Khan and Josh Michalowski Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Qatar closes airspace as 'precaution'
Qatar closes airspace as 'precaution'
London, 23 June (Argus) — Qatar today closed its airspace in what it called a "precautionary measure". The move came after the US embassy in Qatar ordered its citizens to "shelter in place". The UK followed this, with both embassies saying the order was "out of an abundance of caution". The Qatari government said the embassies' warnings did not "necessarily reflect the existence of specific threats". The country's foreign office said the airspace closure was undertaken "based on developments in the region". Tehran said today that US airstrikes have expanded the range of legitimate military targets for its armed forces, and Qatar hosts the US' largest military base in the Middle East. Closure of Qatari airspace will make traversing the Mideast Gulf region by air more complicated. Air traffic tracking data show a complete absence of aircraft over Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran, with all flights from east to west diverting either north or south of this region. By Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US refiners boost jet production despite clouds
US refiners boost jet production despite clouds
Houston, 23 June (Argus) — Some US refiners are boosting jet fuel production despite tariff-related economic uncertainties that could affect travel demand. Marathon Petroleum, one of the largest US independent refiners, is spending millions to increase jet fuel capacity at its 253,000 b/d Robinson refinery in Illinois. The project will increase the refinery's flexibility to optimise jet output to meet growing demand, chief executive Maryann Mannen says. The company plans to spend $150mn on the project this year and another $50mn in 2026. Marathon would not disclose the planned jet capacity at the refinery but says the project will be ready by the end of 2026. Another independent refiner, CVR Energy, is increasing jet capacity at its Coffeyville, Kansas, refinery. The company is installing piping and revamping storage tanks at the 132,000 b/d facility to enable 9,000 b/d of jet output by the end of the third quarter, chief executive David Lamp says. Jet production is not subject to a Renewable Volume Obligation, which means that CVR would not need to blend biofuels into it or purchase renewable identification number (RIN) credits as it would if producing diesel. Shifting production from diesel to jet will reduce CVR's annual RINs requirements, Lamp says. At the same time, the opportunity to sell products to markets further west, where two major refineries are set to close, will continue to grow over the next few years, with jet being an important part of the mix, he says. Phillips 66 plans to shut its 139,000 b/d Los Angeles refinery by October, while independent Valero aims to close or repurpose its 145,000 b/d Benicia, California, refinery by April 2026. CVR has the capability to move products from the midcontinent to California but would need to weigh the potential benefits against the political, regulatory and cost environment in the state and, as a result, may favour other locations, it tells Argus . CVR at present produces jet at its 74,500 b/d Wynnewood, Oklahoma, refinery, shipping it primarily by truck or pipeline to midcontinent locations, but it can also move jet by rail. Another independent, Delek, has upgraded its 83,000 b/d El Dorado, Arkansas, refinery to produce jet as part of a plan to boost profitability. The company did not disclose how much jet the refinery can produce. The investments come after US refineries produced a record share of jet in 2024, reflecting higher demand relative to other transport fuels, according to the EIA. The EIA in its most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts that US jet demand will average 1.71mn b/d in 2025 and 1.73mn b/d in 2026, up from 1.7mn b/d last year. But US airlines are signalling an uncertain outlook for jet demand, with most withdrawing full-year 2025 financial guidance when reporting first-quarter earnings, as President Donald Trump's evolving tariff plans have made it difficult to predict how travel activity will develop. SAF conduct Refiners nevertheless appear bullish on aviation fuels, including renewables. Specialty refiner Calumet will expand sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) output at its Montana plant sooner than expected — reaching 120mn-150mn USG/yr by the second quarter of 2026, with plans to boost capacity to 300mn USG/yr by 2028. SAF margins have remained "stable and attractive", as the introduction of national mandates around the world compliment an already growing base of voluntary demand, chief executive Todd Borgmann says. US independent Par Pacific's planned $90mn renewable fuels facility at its 94,000 b/d Kapolei, Hawaii, refinery, is near completion. The project will produce SAF and other products, and is expected to start up in the second half of 2025. By Eunice Bridges US jet fuel demand Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Israel-Iran conflict raises European middle distillates
Israel-Iran conflict raises European middle distillates
London, 18 June (Argus) — The continuing and escalating conflict between Israel and Iran is rallying European jet fuel and diesel values, due to fears of supply tightness. The rise in middle distillate values has outstripped those in crude in the past week, suggesting European jet fuel and diesel markets are pricing in the risk of substantial supply constraint arising from Israeli-Iranian tensions. This has not happened yet, with the conflict in a sixth day. Front-month Ice gasoil futures — the underlying value in Argus' European jet fuel and diesel assessments — settled at $731/t on Tuesday, 17 June, up by $45.75/t on the day. This was the highest settlement since 20 February, and the largest daily increase since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Argus priced cif northwest European jet fuel and fob ARA diesel at $789.75/t and $744.50/t on Tuesday, the highest assessments since January. Refining margins for cif northwest European jet fuel and diesel to North Sea Dated crude were $5.17/bl and $4.07/bl higher on the week, at $22.46/bl and $22.45/bl respectively, at Tuesday's close. This is the widest jet fuel crack in a year and the widest diesel crack since February. Although supply has not yet been affected, freight sources told Argus they expect Additional War Risk Premiums (AWRPs) in the Mideast Gulf to rise sharply in the coming days, which could weigh heavily on arbitrage economics to Europe and dissuade shippers from sending product to the region. Loadings of 10ppm diesel and jet totaled 430,000 b/d and 460,000 b/d respectively from ports in the Mideast Gulf in May, according to Kpler, or 11pc and 28pc of global daily loadings. With much of this heading to European destinations, the prospect for disruption is clear. Prompt supply concerns are also reflected through the difference between front- and second-month Ice gasoil futures contracts. The backwardation structure steepened from $9.75/t on Monday to $15/t at Tuesday close. Backwardation between the second- and third-month contracts stretched to $10/t on Tuesday, the widest since February. This suggests concern that supply issues could persist for several months. Europe was already facing unworkable diesel arbitrages for cargoes loading from east of Suez ports for northwest European destinations. Seasonal European jet fuel demand usually relies on supply from the Middle East, the largest jet fuel exporting region to Europe. By Amaar Khan and George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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