LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - European oil product prices were broadly higher on Wednesday, supported by export demand and cold weather across much of the continent. Gasoline traders eyed exports to the Middle East and Africa, but distillate traders said the market continued to be well supplied, despite relatively high levels of refinery maintenance. [REF/E] GASOLINE AND NAPHTHA * Benchmark Eurobob gasoline barges jumped by about $30 to trade between $704-$707 a tonne fob ARA from Tuesday's close. * The rise outpaced that in crude oil prices and its crack to dated Brent BFO- rose to $7.85 a barrel from $6.50 at the close. * Traders said the recent demand from Nigeria and the Middle East continued to support gasoline prices in Europe's inland market. * Swaps show barge prices to average $705 a tonne for February with the crack around $7.60. March is $708, with the crack at $7.50. * The arbitrage swap was a relatively limited $2.70 for February, while March was a wide open $12.40. * Although the spot arbitrage window to ship gasoline from Europe to the United States is expected to be limited for February, a fall in U.S. gasoline stocks and the Tuesday fire at Valero's refinery in Canada pushed up market sentiment in Europe, traders said. * Valero Energy Corp's (VLO.N) 265,000 barrel a day refinery near Quebec City was damaged by fire early on Tuesday, shutting a key gasoline processing unit for an indefinite period. [REF/OUT] [ID:nN02249182] * Weekly oil data from industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) showed gasoline stocks fell 1.2 million barrels, against analysts' expectation for an increase. [EIA/S] * Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration will follow on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EST. (1530 GMT) MIDDLE DISTILLATES * Gas oil differentials were unchanged on Wednesday, trading at parity to ICE gas oil futures. Prices had traded at discounts of $2-$5 at the beginning of the week. * Traders said cold weather across much of Europe had dragged up differentials, while the expiry of the February futures contract next week was also helping to set the direction. * However, while demand has been relatively strong, the market remains well supplied. Traders said refinery production cutbacks were having little immediate impact on the market. [REF/OUT] * Differentials on 10ppm diesel were discussed within the previous day's range at premiums of $14-$17 a tonne fob ARA. * Extensive refinery maintenance in northwest Europe is helping to support diesel levels but buying has been flat, traders said. [REF/E] * February ICE gas oil futures LGOc1 rose $16.50 to $618.50 a tonne, helped by stronger crude and cold weather. Prices have rallied by almost $40 a tonne so far this week. * The prompt crack fell 20 cents to $6.90 a barrel. FUEL OIL * Barges of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) with 3.5 percent sulphur rose to trade at $448 a tonne fob ARA, up $12 from Tuesday. * HSFO's crack spread rose to minus $3.50 a barrel from minus $4.00 a barrel the previous day as gains outstripped those on crude.

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