US asks Europe to release 120 million barrels of diesel reserves

US asked France and Germany to release 120 million barrels of emergency diesel within six months to ease a tightening global diesel market.

Market reaction pending.

France, Germany asked to deploy reserves Officials said the request targets emergency national stocks and sets a six-month window for deployment. The officials said Washington has also signaled that it could consider restricting US diesel exports if European releases and other measures fail to relieve supply pressure.

Officials said the move follows what they described as growing tightness in refined-diesel availability. The request aims to increase immediate physical supply to address near-term gaps in cargoes and inland distribution, officials said, rather than permanently rebalancing global capacity.

Potential market effects and policy levers

Officials framed export limits as a contingency to protect domestic supply and global market stability; they did not give details on the form or timing of any restrictions. Traders and refiners will watch how quickly national authorities can marshal stocks and free distribution, officials said, because the speed of releases will determine whether physical shortages and price strains ease.

Markets will watch whether the requested reserves are deployed by April 2, 2027, the six-month deadline officials set.