Gasoline Prices Ease

US gasoline futures fell to around $3.46 per gallon, slightly easing from an eight-week high, as expectations that Saudi Arabia could restore some disrupted exports soothed immediate supply concerns. The kingdom was reportedly seeking to restore about half the capacity of its East-West oil pipeline within days after drone attacks halted the key link to the Red Sea, while offering additional crude cargoes to Asian refiners via ship-to-ship transfers off Oman’s Sohar port. Meanwhile, EIA data showed US gasoline inventories unexpectedly rose for a second consecutive week, increasing by 794,000 barrels in the week ended September 11, while refinery utilization remained elevated at 96.8%, despite easing from 97.8% a week earlier. However, approaching seasonal refinery maintenance could constrain production and remains a threat to refined-product supplies.