Benchmark European gasoline prices jumped to a five-month high of $751 a tonne on Wednesday, despite falls in other key oil contracts, as a strike at France's biggest oil port entered its tenth day.
"The strength in the Mediterranean (market) is strike-related," a trader said. "I think there is demand for product and zero production."
Refinery production outages during October for plant maintenance have combined with the blockade of oil port Fos-Lavera to affect product output at six refineries in France.
Unions at the port also said they would meet with unions at the refineries to discuss possible joint action.
Middle distillates were weaker as a large volume of spot imports were likely to arrive from the United States and Asia.
"The strength in the Mediterranean (market) is strike-related," a trader said. "I think there is demand for product and zero production."
Refinery production outages during October for plant maintenance have combined with the blockade of oil port Fos-Lavera to affect product output at six refineries in France.
Unions at the port also said they would meet with unions at the refineries to discuss possible joint action.
Middle distillates were weaker as a large volume of spot imports were likely to arrive from the United States and Asia.