China diesel exports set to fall sharply in November

China's diesel exports are on track to fall to about 800,000 tons in November, down from 1.8 million tons in September, as the late summer export surge drew down domestic inventories, traders and executives told Reuters.

Why it matters: China is one of Asia's swing diesel suppliers, so a halving of its November shipments tightens regional product supply even though Beijing raised fourth quarter export quotas by 44 percent.

Data as of Reuters reporting carried by OilPrice on November 5, 2026 and read in full in this run; the export figures are trader and executive estimates of November loading plans, not official customs data, and second half November deals are not yet final. Developing item.

Chinese refiners have sold about 500,000 metric tons of diesel for November loading so far, and early estimates put the month’s total at about 800,000 tons, down from 1.33 million tons in August and 1.8 million tons in September, traders and executives with knowledge of the export plans told Reuters. Shipments surged in August and September after Beijing lifted the export restrictions it had imposed from April to July to protect domestic supply during the Strait of Hormuz disruption, and that surge pulled domestic inventories down.

The cut comes even after China raised its refined product export quota for the fourth quarter to 20.44 million tons, up 44 percent from a year earlier, according to GL Consulting. Its analysts said quota headroom does not guarantee physical exports, and that an upward revision to the November plan is possible while the monthly schedule remains under adjustment.

China diesel exports set to fall sharply in November

Sources