U.S. Rack Daily ULSD Up 18.80cts; Gasoline Rises 9.88cts

DAVENPORT, FL (DTN) – Wholesale rack prices for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and gasoline moved higher Monday (3/30), extending Friday’s increases, as physical markets strengthened alongside rising futures amid the escalation of the Iran war and expectations of global limited supplies.

Nationwide ULSD rack prices averaged $4.3006 gallon, up 18.80cts from Friday’s $4.1125 gallon, according to DTN data. Conventional unleaded gasoline rack prices averaged $3.2231 gallon, up 9.88cts from $3.1243 gallon.

Futures prices also moved higher Monday morning. Front-month May NYMEX ULSD futures rose 10.93cts to $4.3466 gallon, while May RBOB gasoline futures increased 3.25cts to $3.2245 gallon. WTI crude for May delivery climbed $1.26 to $100.90 bbl.

Support in both futures and physical markets followed renewed geopolitical uncertainty. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further escalation targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached, while also signaling that progress toward a potential agreement has been made. The mixed messaging has kept risk premium in place, with markets balancing the possibility of disruption against the chance of de-escalation.

ULSD racks increased across all regions on Monday, with the largest moves in PADD 1. East Coast ULSD rose 24.70cts to $4.5557 gallon, while Gulf Coast prices increased 20.31cts to $4.3776 gallon. West Coast values climbed 20.23cts to $5.4878 gallon, maintaining the strongest regional premium. Midwest ULSD moved 17.67cts higher to $3.8005 gallon, while PADD 4 posted the smallest increase, up 2.31cts to $4.1411 gallon.

Relative to the national ULSD rack average of $4.3006 gallon, PADD 5 held the widest premium at $1.1872 above the U.S. benchmark, followed by PADD 1 at 25.51cts above and PADD 3 at 7.70cts above. PADD 4 traded below the national average, while PADD 2 remained at the deepest discount at 50.01cts below the benchmark.

On conventional unleaded gasoline racks, most regions moved higher Monday. PADD 1 increased 11.43cts to $3.0240 gallon, while Gulf Coast prices rose 10.36cts to $3.0171 gallon. Midwest gasoline climbed 9.36cts to $2.6864 gallon, maintaining the deepest discount nationally. West Coast gasoline increased 7.82cts to $3.9984 gallon, holding the strongest premium, while PADD 4 was the only region to decline, falling 5.46cts to $3.0252 gallon.

Compared with the national gasoline average of $3.2231 gallon, PADD 5 remained the only region trading at a premium, at 77.53cts above the benchmark. All other regions held discounts, led by PADD 2 at 53.67cts below the national average, followed by PADD 3 at 20.60cts and PADD 1 at 19.91cts. PADD 4 also traded below the national benchmark.

Premium gasoline rack prices were mixed. East Coast, Midwest and Gulf Coast markets moved higher, while Rocky Mountain and West Coast prices edged lower. West Coast premiums remained elevated at $4.2649 gallon despite the decline.

Rising rack prices and futures suggests that physical markets are stabilizing after last week’s volatility, with supply risk still providing underlying support. At the same time, day-to-day direction remains sensitive to shifting geopolitical signals, as participants weigh both escalation threats and indications that a negotiated resolution remains on the table.