US spot toluene prices climbed last week, rising 7 cents on the week to close Friday at 272 cents/gal as prices were bolstered by continued tight supply. The gains had a significant, negative impact on disproportionation economics, and TDP and MSTDP margins were last estimated at near $15 and $19/mt, respectively. Sources said that there was some demand for toluene from the gasoline blending segment as blenders worked to meet lower RVP specs. Toluene’s blend value was at near 250 cents/gal, according to S&P Global Platts data. Sources anticipated little change in fundamentals this week and pricing was expected to face downward pressure in the near term amid pending supply improvements. Meanwhile spot mixed xylene prices rose sharply last week, gaining 20 cents to close at parity with toluene. Sources said the gains were driven by the supply side and demand remained stable from the downstream paraxylene sector, where spot prices continued to hover just above $900/mt. Sources anticipated that paraxylene prices would be flat to higher near term amid healthy demand from the PTA and PET segments related to the bottling season. PX economics were likely to improve in May, sources said, as mixed xylene prices move lower following the restart of at least two major producers in the US Gulf.