LONDON, Aug. 7 (Reuters) - Northwest European gasoline refining margins rose by nearly $4 to $31.83 a barrel on Friday, buoyed by a sharp drop in regional inventories.
- About 8,000 metric tons of gasoline E5 barges traded, with Trafigura and Exxon Mobil selling to BP, MB Energy and TotalEnergies.
- Another 8,000 metric tons of gasoline E10 barges traded, with Exxon Mobil and Petroineos selling to Varo and Aramco.
- Gasoline stocks independently held in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp refining and storage hub fell nearly 19% on the week to 797,000 metric tons, their lowest level since October 2021, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed on Thursday.
- The draw was driven by stronger exports, particularly to Africa, while inland demand remained relatively stable despite low water levels on the Rhine, Insights Global's Lars van Wageningen said.
- Rhine barge freight remained supported by low water levels, with brokers Riverlake saying Kaub continued to be the main bottleneck as falling Rhine levels restricted vessel loading capacity, with intake levels forecast at around 205 tons.
- China's July crude oil imports rose 22% from June's nearly 10-year low, customs data released on Friday showed, as cheaper barrels bought after the Strait of Hormuz briefly reopened in June arrived.
- Vortexa estimated fuel exports to destinations beyond Hong Kong and Macau, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, at 2 million tons in July, more than double the level in June.
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