NYMEX October RBOB closed 4.40 cents higher at $2.6287/gal on Tuesday, while oil futures were mixed on news of US-led airstrikes in Syria and increased Libyan production.
NYMEX November crude closed 69 cents higher at $91.56/barrel. ICE November Brent settled 12 cents lower at $96.85/b. NYMEX October ULSD closed up 39 points at $2.6832/gal.
"Some ongoing refinery issues are allowing RBOB to break free a little bit from the balance of the complex, and concern related to the airstrikes in Syria are helping to keep a floor on crude prices," Tony Headrick, an analyst at CHS Hedging, said.
Two Canadian refineries started planned maintenance last week that are typically major sources of gasoline to the US East Coast.
Irving Oil started an eight-week turnaround at its 300,000 b/d Saint John, New Brunswick, refinery, while Suncor began work on its 137,000 b/d refinery in Montreal, which is expected to last 11 weeks.
In the Middle East, geopolitical risk resurfaced as a US-led coalition widened the fight against jihadists, bombing parts of Syria overnight.
Libyan crude production continued to increase Tuesday after the state-owned National Oil Corp. reopened the Sharara oil field and associated export terminal and refinery a day earlier.
