Middle East export disruptions, soaring gasoline demand and shifting trade flows have reshaped global naphtha markets over the past six months. Join Gary Clark, associate director, price reporting, and Barbara Fernandez-Pita, senior price reporter, as they break down what prompted the multiyear highs in gasoline blending demand for naphtha, the widening East-West arbitrage, propane's growing advantage over naphtha at the steam crackers and the Rhine logistics issues disrupting Europe's petrochemical sector.

Energy markets are once again being tested by geopolitics. With fragile shipping routes and shifting trade patterns, energy security has returned to the top of the agenda. As the industry prepares for APPEC 2026, hosted by S&P Global Energy, the focus is no longer just on market access but on securing reliable, long-term energy supplies. Asia remains the center of gravity for global energy demand, yet the region's priorities are evolving. The industry's biggest questions are: Where will reliable energy come from? How will trade flows shift? And how can the region balance growth with decarbonization?

In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Asia energy editor Sambit Mohanty is joined by Vera Blei, head of Platts; Debangsu Ray, cluster president and head of Reliance's Jamnagar refinery; and Calvin Lee, head of Asia content. They discuss the key themes that will be in focus at the conference, scheduled to take place in Singapore from Sept. 7–10.

As summer driving reaches its seasonal peak, European gasoline production faces challenging chokepoints amid broader macro trends reshaping supply and demand fundamentals. In this episode, S&P Global Energy's Emma Kettley is joined by Friedrich Gutsche and Rebeka Foley to discuss how restrictive domestic flows have weighed on gasoline blending economics, adding pressure on the regional supply balance, amid historically low Rhine water levels. Tune in to find out how these trends will play out ahead of the market's transition from summer to winter, and uncover how global dynamics are shaping regional consumer demand.