US MTBE: Prices track RBOB gains as market stays sidelined / No market activity heard day over day / Cracker curtailments may tighten European MTBE

Aug 31, 2026

US Gulf Coast MTBE prices remained supported by strengthening forward-month RBOB contracts on Aug. 28, as participants took a more observant than active stance. US Gulf Coast spot MTBE at 329.02 cents/ gallon FOB US Gulf Coast on Aug. 28, 5.98 cents higher on the day. No bids, offers or trades were reported during the Market on Close assessment process. As a result, the MTBE differential to forward-month October RBOB was unchanged at plus 24 cents/gal. Crude volatility continued to weigh on the regional MTBE market, with October RBOB settled 5.98 cents higher at 305.02 cents/gal. The NYMEX RBOB backwardation between September and October contracts closed at 43.97 cents/gal on Aug. 28 at 1:30 pm Central time, ahead of the switch to winter-grade gasoline specifications in the US. European crackers...

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