Americas Aromatics: Toluene and xylenes dip but recover on tight gasoline market / Toluene, xylene prices drop then rebound / Gasoline tightness drives octane values up / Commercial-grade gains 8 cents to 430 cents/gal

Aug 31, 2026

US nitration-grade toluene and mixed xylenes declined week over week Aug. 28, although both markets recovered during the latter half of the week as tight gasoline and elevated octane values continued to support blending economics. The recovery in nitration-grade toluene and mixed xylenes toward the end of the week coincided with continued tightness across the octane complex. A broker said Aug. 28 that octane tightness appeared likely to persist and pointed to alkylate trading at elevated levels. Both markets softened from 455 cents/gal Aug. 24 to a weekly low of 449 cents/gal Aug. 26 before rebounding to 452 cents/gal Aug. 27 and 458 cents/gal Aug. 28. The markets finished 5 cents/ gal lower week over week. A trader said Aug. 26 that gasoline continued to drive aromatics values. On the...

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