Global product markets weekly: Tight jet market unable to offset gasoline weakness

For the week commencing 19 February refinery margins weakened in all regions, except on the US Gulf Coast (USGC), due to larger gasoline and middle distillate stocks. Weekly stock levels for gasoline and residual fuel oil in the US, NW Europe, Japan, Singapore and the Middle East are expected to have been relatively flat, whereas middle distillates stock levels are expected to have seen a small increase, with most of this from Asia. Jet/kero has been the exception, as jet/kero stocks have seen another weekly draw in Japan, lending support to global jet cracks. USGC refinery margins increased as February has been an intense period for refinery maintenance, with over 1.8 mb/d of crude capacity offline in the US, a seasonal high.