Asia’s gasoline refining profit margin was little changed on Monday as tight supply-demand continued to support market sentiment.

The crack rose slightly to $14.54 per barrel over Brent crude, compared with $14.01 a day earlier.

In the naphtha market, the crack rose by about $2 to $102.80 per metric ton over Brent crude on Monday but demand was subdued. The backwardation between first-half January and first-half February prices stood at $9.25 a ton.

Traders said petrochemical demand remained lacklustre and could push some of the South Korean cracker operators to cut runs.

NEWS

– Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina will sell 100,000 barrels of gasoline to fuel retailer PT Vivo Energi Indonesia, Pertamina’s trading subsidiary Pertamina Patra Niaga said.

– Licences to supply methanol as a marine fuel in the world’s largest bunker port, Singapore, will be issued from January 1, 2026, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement.

– Oil prices fell on Monday, extending last week’s decline of about 3%, as investors weighed the chances for a U.S. rate cut against the prospect of a Ukraine peace deal that could lead to an easing of sanctions on major producer Russia.
Source: Reuters