Europe Gasoline/Naphtha-Gasoline margins halved

LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Northwest European gasoline refinery profit margins fell more than $6 on Tuesday to $6.84 despite rising prices of the fuel.

• About 6,000 metric tons of E5 gasoline barges traded in the Argus window, with Shell and Exxon selling to Varo and TotalEnergies.

• An additional 13,400 tons of E10 gasoline barges traded in the session, with BP, Phillips 66 and Petroineos selling to Glencore, MB Energy, Trafigura, TotalEnergies and Varo.

• China is poised to extend its ban on refined fuel exports into April, though exemptions could be applied to small volumes bound for countries in the region that have requested help, said five industry sources with knowledge of the matter.

• The U.S. national average retail price of gasoline crossed $4 a gallon for the first time in more than three years on Monday, data from price-tracking service GasBuddy showed, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran rages on.

• South Africa will reduce its fuel levy for one month to stop fuel prices rising even further in April, but despite this the regulated petrol price will rise by about 15% and wholesale diesel by 40%.

• Russia's Kirishi oil refinery could partially resume production within a month.

• EU-27 and UK gasoline and blending component exports to other regions have averaged 890,000 barrels per day so far in March, against 874,000 bpd in February.