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.
Norway to debate increasing diesel, jet stocks
Norway to debate increasing diesel, jet stocks
London, 20 May (Argus) — Norway's parliament, the Storting, will tomorrow discuss a proposal to increase the country's diesel and jet fuel stocks to cover 90 days of consumption, up from the current 20 days. The parliament's energy and environment committee on 12 May requested the government "urgently establish a better system for emergency storage of diesel and aviation gasoline in Norway, which ensures security of supply in all parts of the country for 90 days". It also asked the government to "consider measures to secure the production of diesel in Norway", with an autumn deadline for government proposals. The topic was sparked by a report from the Norwegian Defence Research Institute in March, which flagged that the country is dependent on imported diesel and jet fuel, and has one refinery — the 203,000 b/d Mongstad facility, run by state-controlled Equinor. The report recommended strategic fuel stocks as a priority measure. The committee's recommendation noted Norway has "good capacity for the production of regular gasoline", but it pointed out logistics concerns, and the potential requirement for more fuel in the country's north "where nationally the greatest military activity can be expected". Norway, as Europe's biggest oil exporter, has no stockholding obligation under its IEA membership — the only country outside North America without one. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mercado espera queda no consumo de Ciclo Otto no 3º bi
Mercado espera queda no consumo de Ciclo Otto no 3º bi
Sao Paulo, 19 May (Argus) — As vendas do Ciclo Otto, que incluem gasolina C e etanol hidratado, devem cair no terceiro bimestre do ano, refletindo os impactos da guerra entre os Estados Unidos e o Irã na economia brasileira e nos preços dos combustíveis, segundo estimativas das principais distribuidoras do Brasil consultadas pela Argus. A mediana das projeções, levantadas com as equipes de inteligência das maiores distribuidoras de combustíveis com operações no país, apontou para um consumo conjunto de aproximadamente 5,5 milhões de m³ de gasolina C – combustível misturado com etanol anidro – e etanol hidratado tanto para maio quanto para junho. Se confirmados, os volumes representarão quedas de 5,4pc e 4,7pc em relação às vendas do Ciclo Otto em maio e junho do ano passado, respectivamente, segundo dados da Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP). A retração anual é influenciada pelo aumento no custo de vida da população, que deve reduzir a utilização de veículos a combustão como meios de transporte de passeio, segundo participantes de mercado. Os preços de revenda da gasolina C no varejo cresceram 6pc entre a semana iniciada em 22 de fevereiro e a em 10 de maio, mostram dados da ANP. Os efeitos da guerra nos preços da gasolina no mercado brasileiro foram mitigados pela menor dependência nacional por produto estrangeiro. As medianas das projeções para consumo de gasolina apontam para aproximadamente 3,9 milhões de m³ em maio e 3,8 milhões de m³ em junho. Os volumes representam respectivas quedas de 4,5pc e de quase 6pc em relação aos mesmos meses de 2025, segundo dados da ANP. Para etanol hidratado, a expectativa é de que o consumo atinja 1,72 milhão de m³ em maio e 1,75 milhão de m³ em junho. Se confirmados, esses volumes representarão queda de 6pc para maio e aumento de 1pc para junho, na comparação anual, conforme dados da ANP. Projeções de uma produção recorde de etanol na safra 2026-27 de cana-de-açúcar trazem expectativas de queda para os preços do biocombustível nos próximos meses e, consequentemente, redução da paridade de preços entre o etanol e a gasolina. O aumento da competitividade do etanol deve refletir com mais intensidade na mudança de comportamento do consumidor a partir de junho, segundo agentes do setor. Diesel recua A projeção para o diesel B é de queda no consumo nos próximos dois meses. As medianas apontam para uma demanda de 5,9 milhões de m³ em maio e 5,8 milhões de m³ em junho, quedas de 3,6pc e 4pc em relação aos mesmos meses do ano anterior, respectivamente, com base nos dados da ANP. As estimativas das distribuidoras levaram em conta o comportamento de variáveis macroeconômicas, como expectativas para o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) e o desempenho de setores mais intensivos no consumo de combustíveis. O aumento dos preços do diesel no mercado doméstico também sustenta uma queda no consumo nesse no período. Os preços de revenda do combustível fóssil cresceram 33pc entre a semana anterior ao início do conflito no Oriente Médio e a semana iniciada em 10 de maio, de acordo com a ANP. Considerando a mescla obrigatória de 15pc de biodiesel no diesel, a demanda do biocombustível poderia alcançar 1,8 milhão de m³ no bimestre. O volume representaria uma alta de quase 3pc ante o mesmo período do ano passado, quando a mescla em vigor era de 14pc. Por Maria Albuquerque Projeções para consumo de combustíveis rodoviários .000 m³ Maio Junho Combustível Mediana ANP (2025) % Mediana ANP (2025) % Diesel B 5902,0 6163,7 -3,6 5804,0 6061,6 -4,3 Gasolina C 3857,0 4040,3 -4,5 3789,0 4021,8 -5,8 Etanol hidratado 1718,0 1828,1 -6,0 1749,6 1733,2 1,0 Ciclo Otto 5549,0 5868,4 -5,4 5486,5 5755,0 -4,7 Fonte: Argus, ANP Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Tax cut boosts German fuel demand in early May
Tax cut boosts German fuel demand in early May
Hamburg, 18 May (Argus) — A temporary tax cut on road fuels lifted German demand for diesel and gasoline in the first half of May compared with April and the same period last year, data reported to Argus show. Heating oil picked up at the same time. The €14.04/100l reduction in energy tax on motor fuels, in place from 1 May to 30 June, triggered an expected increase in buying in early May. Diesel prices were on average about €23.50/100l lower in the week ending 15 May than on 30 April. Diesel volumes reported to Argus rose by nearly 33pc in the first half of May from April, while gasoline sales increased by almost 35pc. The rise in wholesale demand for truck loading partly reflected higher sales at filling stations and steady diesel use during the last phase of spring fieldwork. Industrial customers also drew down diesel stocks at the end of April and started replenishing in early May. Overall, diesel spot sales during 1–15 May rose by almost a third from a year earlier. Spot gasoline volumes reported to Argus rose by about 29pc at the same time. But gasoline is traded more under supply contracts than on the spot market, limiting the relevance of the percentage changes compared with diesel or heating oil. Heating oil sales reported to Argus also increased in early May, by 23pc from April, although from a historically low base. Compared with a year earlier, deliveries were down by nearly 60pc. Private heating oil tank levels were at 45pc nationwide on 12 May, the lowest since at least 2018, Argus MDX data show. By Johannes Guhlke Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Nigeria issues 2Q gasoline import permits: Sources
Nigeria issues 2Q gasoline import permits: Sources
Lagos, 7 May (Argus) — Nigeria has issued permits for the import of over 700,000t of gasoline — up from permits for only 180,000t issued in March — heading off a fuel shortage projected by downstream regulator NMDPRA for the end of the second quarter, sources told Argus . The import permits were granted to product marketers AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono, Matrix, Nipco and Pinnacle — which were also the recipients in March of all but one of the seven permits issued for the first quarter. The new permits are each in the range of 60,000–180,000t, sources in NMDPRA and a large international trading firm said. Nigeria strictly limited gasoline import permits in January–April and has seen intense political conflict between importers and domestic refiners this year. Sources told Argus that pressure on the government from importers would peak whenever gasoline prices at Nigeria's 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery rose above import parity prices in February–April. NMDPRA data shows Dangote accounted for 92pc of Nigerian gasoline supply in February, edging down to 85pc in March, on the back of import permits issued that month. Dangote increased gasoline supply to the domestic market by about 16pc on the month to 34,000 t/d in April, but that was below NMDPRA's 42,000 t/d adequate supply target. The refiner exported more gasoline after the US-Iran war started as that was more profitable, sources told Argus . Gasoline exports were aimed at supporting neighbouring countries through the geopolitical crisis, Dangote told Argus last week. The refiner has maintained production above 46,000 t/d in April and May, up from 41,000 t/d in March, according to regulatory data. Nigeria's import permits are valid only until the end of the quarter they cover with additional and strict regulatory approvals required for product delivery delayed beyond the three-month period covered by permits under which cargoes are imported. Permits were usually issued in advance of the relevant quarter, but have been granted well into the relevant quarter this year. First quarter gasoline import permits issued to the six companies in mid-March totalled 180,000t, compared with permits for 4.3mn t to cover the fourth quarter of 2025 that were issued to 43 companies in September. The March permits required the intervention of President Bola Tinubu with the NMDPRA chief executive, sources close to the presidency and in NMDPRA told Argus . Tinubu replaced that NMDPRA chief last week — having only appointed him in December because the six marketers' permits were not renewed for the second quarter, the sources said. The former NMDPRA chief executive changed regulatory policy this year to issue import permits only to fill gaps in domestic refinery supply. Nigeria previously maintained a 30-day gasoline stocks sufficiency floor, or 1.26mn t, for guiding the issuance of import permits. But the former NMDPRA chief reduced that to 20 days from January as part of the new policy, sources said. The country was down to about 16 days' supply by 24 April, and was projected to face shortages towards the end of the quarter when Tinubu made the NMDPRA chief executive change. The new NMDPRA chief executive, who stopped being Dangote chief commercial officer last year, told Nigeria's senate, "Energy security doesn't mean just having enough products for 20 days or 30 days but [ensuring] adequate stock that can be used as a buffer should there be a shortfall in production or in importation," before he was confirmed by the legislative body on 5 May. Tinubu said the most senior NMDPRA official should oversee regulatory operations in an acting capacity before confirmation of the new chief executive. The new import permits were issued under that arrangement, an NMDPRA source told Argus . International traders, including BP, are holding stocks of Nigerian spec gasoline offshore west Africa and gasoline deliveries to Nigeria will start with the issuance of the permits, two sources told Argus . By Adebiyi Olusolape and George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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