India is confidently taking its place as an important supplier of diesel fuel to Europe. In August 2026, Indian refineries provided about 60% of the diesel and gasoil volume that passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait towards Europe.
According to data from the analytics company Vortexa, approximately 200 thousand barrels per day were heading to Europe via this key route. Volumes have returned to year-ago levels after an almost complete halt in March and April.
Russian seaborne diesel and gasoil supplies in August averaged only 150 thousand barrels per day over the first 25 days of the month. That is 610 thousand barrels less than a year earlier and 81% below the five-year seasonal average.
Supplies from the United States, another major source for Europe, have also begun to decline. In August they provided about half of Europe's diesel imports from outside the region — roughly 520 thousand barrels per day. However, in the second half of the month volumes fell to 350 thousand barrels.
India, the world's fourth-largest refining hub, has a capacity of 258,1 million tonnes per year. This significantly exceeds domestic consumption. In the financial year 2025–2026, the country exported 61,5 million tonnes of petroleum products.
European buyers are increasingly turning to Indian supplies to compensate for the shortfall from the eastern direction. Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, including Perm, continue to limit exports from Russia, while American shipments are losing momentum.
