alkylate

Refinitiv Eikon trade data shows that Reliance shipped alkylate, a component for motor gasoline, to Venezuela on vessels Torm Mary and Torm Anabel in recent weeks.

Excluding a few specialty components such as alkylate that Venezuela has always imported to formulate finished fuels, most products received this year have been bought to cover deficiencies in refining output.

Reason: the vital ingredient of the higher octane gas is alkylate, which is made from natural gas or from by-products of petroleum cracking, on both of which Germany is as short as the U.S. is long.