- Global diesel market stayed uneven as crude supply disruptions in Gulf regions tightened product availability while refinery throughput weakened across major consuming regions.
- Feedstock pressure shifted sharply after April peak crude levels with supply falling and refining runs declining across the globe.
- Downstream demand stayed mixed as transport fuel needs and export shortages lifted margins despite weaker industrial consumption in key economies.
Asia
In Saudi Arabia, monthly average diesel prices were ~SAR 1.80/liter in the first two months of the second quarter of 2026. However, in India, monthly average diesel prices were ~INR 92.06/liter in April and ~INR 98.80/liter in the following month, showing a ~7.3% increase. Asia saw a split trend in Q2’26. Early-quarter supply stress came from Middle East crude and product-flow disruption, which tightened refinery output and lifted import concern. India saw stronger price pressure as agriculture, freight, and industrial consumption kept demand active. High-Speed Diesel demand reached 8.73 MMT in May, up 1.6% year-on-year, and retail diesel sales were capped in June to prevent local shortages and bulk buying. Later, Asian pressure eased as South Korean refiners sold more than 10 May-loading diesel cargoes, more than twice April volume, improving regional availability.
Europe
Europe’s diesel market was mainly shaped by import-route risk rather than strong consumption growth. The region remained exposed to middle distillate inflows, and concern rose when East-of-Suez supply was disrupted. Seaborne diesel and gasoil imports recovered in May, reaching 1.5 mb/d in the first 18 days of the month, up from March-April lows, as U.S. barrels replaced missing Middle East supply. Downstream support was moderate. Construction activity improved slightly in April, but industrial production was almost flat, which limited demand-led price strength.
North America
In the United States, diesel prices were ~USD 1.43/liter in April and ~USD 1.48/liter in May, showing a ~3.5% increase. The rise was supported by freight-season consumption and early-quarter supply concern, but the market began to soften later as refinery output improved. U.S. refinery utilization increased from 94.5% in late May to 96.6% in late June, while distillate stocks rose from 100.799 million barrels to 108.599 million barrels. Demand was not consistently strong, as distillate product supplied fell by late June after weekly fluctuations.