USA

US Tells France and Germany to Release Diesel Stocks or Face Export Ban

Abdul Mannan 4 hours ago • 2 min read

Row of large white diesel fuel storage tanks with a tanker truck at a fuel depot at dusk

The United States has told France and Germany to release diesel from their emergency reserves to help bring down global fuel prices, warning that Washington could otherwise impose a ban on American diesel exports, according to Reuters, which cited three people close to the discussions.

One of the sources, speaking from a European capital, said Washington had asked the European Union to release 120 million barrels of diesel over the next six months — roughly a month of the bloc’s total diesel consumption, according to Reuters’ calculations.

The appeal puts the spotlight on Europe’s dependence on American fuel. Germany holds 5.6 million tonnes and France 8.2 million tonnes of emergency gasoil and diesel stocks, about 35 per cent of the EU’s strategic reserves, according to Eurostat data cited by Reuters. EU rules require member states to maintain reserves covering at least 90 days of net imports or 61 days of consumption, and the bloc is complying overall.

The pressure comes as President Donald Trump weighs whether to block US diesel exports. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, he said he had conversations about a ban “every day”, adding that it would have “a negative impact on gasoline” prices but could lower diesel costs, according to Reuters. He blamed the surge in prices chiefly on the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Diesel reached a record $6.53 a gallon a week ago, while petrol prices have risen more than 40 per cent over the past year, according to AAA data cited in the report. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States had lost diesel exports from the Middle East and China amid the Iran war and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities.

No final decision on an export ban has been made. The Times reported that American officials had briefed allies, including Britain, about possible disruption to supplies; about a quarter of Britain’s diesel imports came from the United States over the past three months.