U.S. Rack ULSD Rises 21.1cts; Gasoline Up 2.77cts on Week


   
   DAVENPORT, FL (DTN) -- Wholesale rack prices for ultra-low sulfur diesel 
(ULS) and gasoline moved higher Friday (3/27), following Thursday's pullback, 
as physical markets remained supported by ongoing supply risk tied to the Iran 
war while futures extended gains.

   Nationwide ULSD rack prices averaged $4.1125 gallon, up 21.11cts from 
Thursday's $3.9014 gallon, according to DTN data, but down 6.06cts from $4.1731 
gallon a week earlier. Conventional unleaded gasoline rack prices averaged 
$3.1243 gallon, up 7.73cts from $3.0470 gallon the prior session, and up 
2.77cts from $3.0966 gallon last Friday (3/20).

   Futures prices moved higher Friday morning. Front-month May NYMEX ULSD 
futures rose 9.95cts to $4.1765 gallon, while May RBOB gasoline futures 
increased 8.28cts to $3.1668 gallon. The NYMEX WTI crude futures contract  for 
May delivery climbed $2.37 to $96.85 bbl.

   Support in futures continued to build as prospects for a ceasefire remained 
uncertain. Ongoing exchanges between Israel and Iran, alongside additional U.S. 
troop deployments and discussion of a broader military presence in the region, 
kept geopolitical risk elevated. While diplomatic efforts have been floated, 
market participants are increasingly focused on the risk that disruptions 
persist rather than ease in the near term.

   ULSD racks increased across most regions Friday, with the largest moves in 
PADD 3 and PADD 1. Gulf Coast ULSD rose 26.84cts to $4.1995 gallon, while East 
Coast prices increased 26.01cts to $4.3421 gallon. West Coast values climbed 
21.98cts to $5.2855 gallon, extending the strongest regional premium. Midwest 
ULSD moved 9.59cts higher to $3.5625 gallon, while PADD 4 edged slightly lower 
by 1.41cts to $4.1180 gallon.

   Relative to the national ULSD rack average of $4.1125 gallon, PADD 5 held 
the widest premium at $1.1730 above the U.S. benchmark, followed by PADD 1 at 
22.96cts above and PADD 3 at 8.70cts above. PADD 4 traded near the national 
average, while PADD 2 remained the deepest discount at 55.00cts below the 
benchmark.

   On a week-over-week basis, ULSD showed a mixed regional trend despite the 
national decline. West Coast prices rose 35.88cts from last Friday, while PADD 
1 fell 9.29cts and PADD 2 declined 15.19cts. Gulf Coast values were little 
changed, down 2.09cts, while PADD 4 slipped 5.59cts.

   On conventional unleaded gasoline racks, most regions moved higher Friday. 
PADD 5 posted the largest increase, rising 14.91cts to $3.9202 gallon. East 
Coast prices increased 12.45cts to $2.9181 gallon, while Gulf Coast values rose 
12.21cts to $2.9135 gallon. Midwest gasoline climbed 7.88cts to $2.6340 gallon, 
while PADD 4 was the only region to decline, falling 7.68cts to $3.0798 gallon.

   Compared with the national gasoline average of $3.1243 gallon, PADD 5 
remained the only region trading at a premium, at 79.59cts above the benchmark. 
All other regions held discounts, led by PADD 2 at 49.03cts below the national 
average, followed by PADD 3 at 21.08cts and PADD 1 at 20.62cts. PADD 4 traded 
just slightly below the national benchmark.

   On a week-over-week basis, gasoline posted a modest national increase of 
2.77cts. Regionally, Gulf Coast prices rose 9.11cts, West Coast increased 
7.37cts, and PADD 1 climbed 5.29cts. Midwest gasoline was nearly flat, down 
0.97cts, while PADD 4 edged up 1.14cts.

   Premium gasoline rack prices moved higher across most regions Friday. West 
Coast premiums remained elevated at $4.3103 gallon, while Gulf Coast and East 
Coast markets also posted gains. On a weekly basis, premium gasoline followed a 
similar pattern, with increases led by PADD 5  up 8.77cts and PADD 3 up 
8.26cts, while PADD 2 declined 5.18cts.

   The continued strength in futures alongside firming rack prices reflects a 
market still anchored by supply-side risk, even as day-to-day price direction 
remains uneven. Physical markets have been adjusting to shifting flows and 
buying patterns throughout the week, but underlying support from ongoing 
geopolitical tension continues to keep both crude and refined product prices 
elevated.

    




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