MARKETWIRE ALERTS
Barani Krishnan
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter
MARKETWIRE ALERTS
MarketWire Afternoon News Aug 27th:
Updated at 5:00 PM ET
HEADLINES:
- AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 17.4% for Week Ended Aug 22
- Group 3 CBOB Basis Weakens 5.5cts Amid Rebounding Futures
- USWC Gasoline Basis Climbs as California Stocks Fall
- CEC: California Gasoline Stocks Fall 567,000 Bbl
- CEC: California Diesel Stocks Fall 252,000 Bbl
- EIA: US NatGas Storage Reports 15 Bcf Weekly Injection
NEWS
AAR: Petroleum Carloads Up 17.4% for Week Ended Aug 22
The Association of American Railroads reported that petroleum and petroleum
product carloads totaled 11,468 during the week ended August 22, up 17.4% from
a year ago.
Table of key AAR data for week ended August 22:
AAR: Weekly U.S. Rail Traffic
August 22, 2026
Year-To-Date
Cars Y/Y
change (%) Cumulative Y/Y change (%)
Total Carloads 235,885 3.2%
7,511,910 2.7%
Petroleum and Products 11,468 17.4%
363,949 7.3%
Total Intermodal Units 296,577 5.0%
9,301,986 3.8%
Total Traffic 532,462 4.2%
16,813,896 3.3%
Group 3 CBOB Basis Weakens 5.5cts Amid Rebounding Futures
Midwest spot CBOB differentials posted varying moves across the region
Thursday (8/27) as strength in front-month NYMEX RBOB futures provided support
to Eastern pipeline hubs while weakening Group 3 basis.
Group 3 CBOB traded at a 37.50cts discount to October NYMEX RBOB, widening
5.5cts. In contrast, Chicago CBOB traded at a 16cts discount to October
futures, narrowing 2cts.
Pipeline-connected gasoline also firmed, with Buckeye Complex and Wolverine
Pipeline CBOB both trading at a 10cts discount to October futures -- narrowing
1ct.
The mixed basis movement unfolded as front-month NYMEX RBOB futures climbed
$0.0641 to settle at $3.3842 gallon.
Physical market dynamics were also mixed after the Energy Information
Administration reported that PADD 2 gasoline inventories edged up by 200,000
bbl to 43.3 million bbl during the week ended August 21, while remaining 1.8
million bbl below the 45.1 million bbl level recorded a year ago.
Midwest fuel markets are also navigating logistical issues stemming from the
August 17 fire at Explorer Pipeline's Glenpool tank farm in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
With no firm timeline on when northbound product shipments along the 1,830-mile
pipeline system will fully resume, fuel traders continue to look to the futures
markets for benchmark guidance.
USWC Gasoline Basis Climbs as California Stocks Fall
U.S. West Coast gasoline basis strengthened Thursday (8/27), led by a 20cts
jump in Portland sub-octane, while California CARBOB values remained elevated
as statewide gasoline inventories declined sharply.
Portland sub-octane regular basis was assessed at a 40cts premium to October
NYMEX RBOB futures, up 20cts on the session and 42cts from Friday (8/21),
according to DTN Energy data.
Los Angeles CARBOB regular was heard traded at a 62cts premium to October
NYMEX RBOB futures, up 2cts from the previous session and the highest since
April 27, when it was assessed at a 67cts premium. San Francisco CARBOB regular
was heard traded at a 70cts premium, also 2cts higher from the previous session.
The stronger basis comes as California gasoline supplies tightened on
limited supply availability. California Energy Commission data released
Thursday showed statewide gasoline inventories fell by 567,000 bbl, or 6.1%, to
9.3 million bbl during the week ended August 21. Stocks were 3.457 million bbl,
or 28.3%, below the comparable week in 2025.
CEC: California Gasoline Stocks Fall 567,000 Bbl
CEC: Weekly Fuels Watch - California Gasoline Stocks and Production
For week ended: August 21, 2026
Refinery Stocks (bbl) Production (bbl)
9,340,000 5,579,000
W/W -567,000 11,000
-6.1% 0.2%
Y/Y -3,457,000 6,237,000
-28.3% -10.5%
CEC: California Diesel Stocks Fall 252,000 Bbl
CEC: Weekly Fuels Watch - California Diesel Stocks and Production
For week ended: August 21, 2026
Refinery Stocks (bbl) Production (bbl)
2,217,000 1,385,000
W/W -252,000 6,000
-10.2% 0.4%
Y/Y -612,000 1,456,000
-21.6% -4.9%
EIA: US NatGas Storage Reports 15 Bcf Weekly Injection
Energy Information Administration data released midmorning Thursday (8/27)
show a 15 billion cubic feet injection into U.S. natural gas storage to 3.184
trillion cubic feet in the week ended August 21.
Natural gas in U.S. storage is 0.9% lower than last year and 5.5% above the
five-year average of 3.017 Tcf.
Regionally, EIA reports the East registered a 19 Bcf injection to 727 Bcf,
3.1% more than a year ago and 5.1% higher than the five-year average.
Natural gas in storage in the Midwest increased 18 Bcf week-on-week to 866
Bcf, a 4.5% surplus compared to the same week a year ago and 5.9% higher than
the five-year average.
Mountain region natural gas in storage increased 1 Bcf, down 6.3% year-on-year
to 11.2% above the five-year average.
South Central storage fell 19 Bcf to 1061 Bcf, 5.9% less than in the same
week last year and 3% above the five-year average.
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