FACTBOX: Countries Impose Fuel Export Restrictions During Global Energy Crisis

President Donald Trump on Monday reimposed a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports in response to Iran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz that effectively ended a three-month cease-fire, a sign that the global energy supply shortfall caused by the Middle East conflict will not be over anytime soon.

Russia, a major exporter of refined products and crude oil, last week banned diesel exports for the remainder of July amid weakened domestic production, further tightening global fuel supplies.

The following is a summary of countries that have taken measures in reducing fuel exports to address domestic energy shortages.

Russia

• On July 8, Moscow introduced a ban on diesel exports that will last through July 31 after Ukraine pounded Russia’s largest oil refineries with drone strikes, worsening a domestic fuel shortage.
• On June 1, Russia restricted all aviation fuel exports until the end of November. The Kremlin also introduced a ban on gasoline exports from April 1 through July 31.
• On June 30, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is planning to start importing fuel for the first time in decades, adding that Moscow is in negotiations with several nations.
• In 2025, Russia was the second-largest exporter of global waterborne diesel, accounting for about 11% of all world supplies.

Kyrgyzstan

• On July 14, Kyrgyzstan indefinitely banned exports of gasoline, diesel fuel and oil, as the the Central Asian country relies heavily on Russia for its fuel needs.

Kazakhstan

• Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy has planned to extend its ban on gasoline and diesel fuel exports to May 22, 2027, the country’s privately-owned news website Ulysmedia.kz reported on July 3.
• Kazakhstan’s fuel export ban aims to prevent domestic shortages caused by the stoppage of Russian petroleum supplies.

China

• On March 12, China ordered a ban on refined product exports to pre-empt a potential domestic fuel shortage due to the Iran war, according to multiple wire reports. However, Beijing in late June lifted some of those restrictions for the rest of July and allowed state-owned refiners and a private refiner to resume shipments overseas.
• Chinese gasoline and diesel consumption is down more than 10% from a year ago, due to higher domestic prices during the Iran war and the growing popularity of EVs, which currently account for one in two new passenger vehicles sold in the country.
• China’s customs data showed June crude imports fell to a near 10-year low, as the Strait of Hormuz closure and high prices prompted refineries to draw upon Beijing’s vast strategic oil reserves.

India

• On March 26, the government imposed windfall taxes on jet fuel and diesel exports to discourage excessive exports and ensure sufficient domestic supplies when global prices are above domestic prices.
• The windfall taxes are adjusted regularly, with the latest round on July 1. New Delhi lowered its Special Additional Excise Duty on jet fuel exports to INR 7.50/liter ($0.07/L) from INR 12.50/L, reducing the levy to INR 8.50/L from INR 14.00/L for diesel exports, while raising the tax to INR 4.00/L from INR 1.50/L for gasoline.
• The taxes on jet fuel and diesel exports were likely reduced in line with falling global prices, while the move to raise the gasoline tax came after Russia said it would import gasoline from India in late June.

Thailand

• The government currently bans exports for several refined products including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and LPG. The restriction, which was first introduced in late March, allows limited shipments to Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
• Bangkok also requires fuel traders to increase reserves of domestically produced refined products.
• As of mid-May, the Southeast Asian country with six oil refineries held an estimated oil reserve enough to meet demand for nearly 120 days.

–Reporting by OPIS staff; Editing by Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com