SINGAPORE: Asia’s 10-ppm sulphur gasoil and jet fuel margins climbed for a second consecutive trading session on Friday, against a backdrop of volatile crude futures through the day and a buy-sell gap in the physical market.

Refining margins for 10 ppm sulphur gasoil and jet fuel both rose slightly to $16.84 a barrel and $15.49 a barrel. Cash differentials for 10 ppm sulphur gasoil rose to a discount of 21 cents as some aggressive buying interest remained in the open market from Trafigura for early June parcels.

Jet fuel cash differentials fell by more than 20 cents to 11 cents per barrel on the back of aggressive selling interest for early June parcels from Petrochina.

Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical Corp plans to trim operating rates at its Mailiao refinery to 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June and July because of weaker refining margins and a planned maintenance at a secondary unit, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday.