ARA fuel stocks rise by 1%, Insights Global data shows

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Refined oil products stocks independently held in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining and storage hub rose by 1% on the week to their highest since mid-October, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed on Thursday.

• ARA gasoline stocks rose by 10% on the week to 1.22 million metric tons, at which level they were at their highest since the week to October 2.

• Gasoline stocks rose against a backdrop of slow exports to the U.S. and West Africa, while increasing blending margins has seen an increase of in-tank blending activity, Insights Global's Lars van Wageningen said.

• Gasoil stocks edged 2% lower to 1.97 million tons. Stocks fell amid a small uptick in demand for parcels shipped up the river Rhine, van Wageningen said, though the local diesel market remained broadly slow he said.

The following table shows volumes in thousands of tons:

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