Gasoline RBOB Futures Surge as Spring Refinery Maintenance Season Hits Output

Refinery Throughput Cuts

Planned maintenance at three major refineries in the Texas-Louisiana corridor has reduced domestic gasoline output by 400,000 barrels per day this week. This supply squeeze is outperforming the broader crude complex.

Octane Requirement Spike

The switch to summer-grade fuel requires higher levels of aromatics and alkylates. This has triggered a bidding war for high-octane components, pushing wholesale RBOB prices to their highest level since last summer.