Both direct dealkylation of feed aromatics and hydrogen transfer chemistry contribute to the production of para-xylene in fluid catalytic cracking gasoline products. Based on laboratory scale FCC riser testing, it was found that catalysts containing high rare earth and low matrix activity are the preferred catalysts for high p-xylene yields in fluid catalytic cracking products. Aromatic feedstocks yield higher p-xylene than paraffinic feeds. Catalyst or feed change did not alter the distribution among the three xylene isomers. p-Xylene yield increases with conversion, but the o,m,p distribution does not change much with conversion.