In this guide to understanding RBOB gasoline as a commodity, we’ll explain why it’s valuable, how and where it’s made, which countries produce the most gasoline, and explain what drives its price.
Interested in learning how gasoline is traded? See our full guide, or if you want to get started trading right now, here are options available in to consider:
Disclaimer: Availability subject to regulations.
Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Contents
What Is RBOB Gasoline?
Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB) gasoline is a fuel product made from refined crude oil. RBOB gasoline often goes by the names gasoline, petro gasoline or petrol.
Edwin Drake, the first American to drill for oil, discovered gasoline by accident when he was distilling oil to make kerosene for heating. Drake considered gasoline a useless byproduct of the distillation process and discarded it.
However, after the invention of the automobile in 1892, gasoline became the main source of fuel for cars and light-duty vehicles. This makes gasoline one of the most important and well-known commodities in the world.
How is Gasoline Made?
Gasoline production takes place in oil refineries. These industrial facilities separate crude oil, which consists of different hydrocarbons, into smaller component hydrocarbons or fractions.
Each fraction has molecule chains of different lengths, and each of these chains has a different boiling point.
Role of Refineries
Refineries heat crude oil at temperatures of several hundred degrees and place the boiling liquid into distillation columns called stills. The boiling process produces gasoline as well as other products including kerosene and diesel fuel.
Each of these products is recovered at different temperature points.
A typical 42-gallon barrel of crude oil yields 45 gallons of petroleum products. Gasoline represents nearly half of the petroleum products produced, which ranks it as the number one product recovered during the refining process.
The supply of gasoline depends on the availability of both crude oil and refineries. Industry watchers measure refiners by their capacity, which is the amount of crude oil that can go into distillation units.
Crack Spreads
Oil refiners look at crack spreads when making production decisions.
A crack spread is the difference between the wholesale price of a refined petroleum product such as gasoline and the price of crude oil.
Crack spreads are a way to measure the margins for refining crude products and can serve to predict how tight the supply of products is in different markets.
Top Countries by Gasoline Production
| Rank | Flag | Country | Gasoline Production (Thousand Barrels Per Day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | USA | 8,900 |
| #2 |  | China | 2,100 |
| #3 |  | Japan | 920 |
| #4 |  | Russia | 900 |
| #5 |  | India | 700 |
| #6 |  | Canada | 690 |
| #7 |  | Germany | 480 |
| #8 |  | Brazil | 460 |
| #9 |  | United Kingdom | 410 |
| #10 |  | Mexico | 405 |
Gasoline is the main product made in US oil refineries. Consumers use gasoline for fuel in cars, light trucks and motorcycles as well as recreational vehicles, boats and small aircraft.
Gasoline is also used as a fuel in equipment for construction, farming, forestry and landscaping. Electricity generators and emergency power supplies also use gasoline.
What Drives the Price of Gasoline?
Gasoline prices can fluctuate for many reasons but the most important ones include the following:
- Crude oil prices
- Refining costs and profits
- Distribution and miscellaneous costs
- Seasonal demand
- Political events
- Global demand picture
Crude Oil Prices
Gasoline derives from refining crude oil, so the price of crude oil has a big impact on its price.
Several factors can impact the global demand for crude oil, but the most important one is overall economic strength. Other factors that impact crude oil pricing include:
- The strength of the US dollar (crude prices generally move in an inverse relationship with the dollar)
- Political events, such as decisions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase or limit production
- Weather conditions
- Competition from competing energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind power
Refining Costs and Profits
The costs of operating refineries and the productivity of those refineries can have a major effect on gasoline prices.
Crude oil varieties and the technology available for refining them can lead to different gasoline products and pricing from one refinery to the next.
Seasonal pollution requirements for gasoline can also lead to disparities in pricing as can weather-related disruptions to refinery operations.
Distribution and Miscellaneous Costs
The cost of crude oil and refining it represent the major components of gasoline pricing, but several other miscellaneous factors can affect the final price consumers pay:
- Transporting gasoline from refineries to terminals near gas stations: Harder-to-reach destinations often translate to higher prices.
- Regulatory requirements: In some markets, gasoline producers must add ethanol to comply with laws.
- Local market economic conditions: Affluent areas often have higher prices than poorer areas.
Seasonal Demand
Gasoline prices show strong seasonal patterns. In the lead-up to summer, prices tend to rise in anticipation of peak driving season. Prices tend to fall in the winter when inclement weather keeps consumers off the roads.
California is the largest gasoline-consuming state with over 15 billion gallons consumed every year.
Seasonal patterns also emerge as a result of formulation requirements for gasoline. Environmental regulations in the United States, for example, require gasoline sold in the summer to be less susceptible to evaporation.
This requires refiners to substitute more expensive components into gasoline.
Political Events
Turmoil in important oil-producing countries can create spikes in gasoline prices. In the past, Middle East wars, oil embargos, political coups and acts of terrorism have created fears of supply disruptions and higher prices.
Global Demand Picture
Increasing demand for gasoline in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East often outpaces supply from those regions. Demand for gasoline has been steadily declining in Europe and the United States.
Fluctuations in global demand and how refineries respond to changes in demand can materially affect gasoline prices.
New technologies such as electric-powered vehicles, for example, could substantially reduce demand for gasoline.
Where Can I Trade Energy Commodities?
Start your research with reviews of these regulated brokers available in .
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IMPORTANT: CFDs are not available in the USA due to local regulation, and regulated brokers do not accept US citizens or US residents as clients.
Further Reading
- How to Trade RBOB Gasoline
- Learn to Trade Energy Commodities
- Find a Commodities Broker
- Learn About Crude Oil
