Finance
Europe Sees Record Jet Inflows From US in April
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 15, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
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Europe is receiving record jet fuel inflows from the US—149,000–200,000 barrels per day in April—to offset a 375,000 bpd shortfall caused by Middle East disruptions. Yet stock levels remain low, raising the risk of shortages by June.
Europe facing jet fuel crunch sees record inflows from US, Nigeria
Record Jet Fuel Imports Reshape European Supply Chains
By Seher Dareen
Disrupted Gulf Supplies Drive Shift in Import Sources
LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Europe is seeing record inflows of jet fuel from the United States and Nigeria, data from Kpler and LSEG showed, as it seeks to shore up supplies due to disrupted imports from the Gulf.
Europe formerly depended on the Gulf for nearly 75% of its jet fuel imports, or around 375,000 barrels per day (bpd), but the Iran war has effective closed off tanker traffic seeking to exit via the Strait of Hormuz.
European Airlines Call for Emergency Measures
European airlines have urged the European Union to step in with emergency measures, including widespread airspace closures, as per a document seen by Reuters.
Record High Imports from the US and Nigeria
US Jet Fuel Supply Surges
U.S. supply looks set to reach between 149,000 to 200,000 bpd so far in April, based on vessels discharged and those still due, a record high according to data going as far back as 2015 on LSEG and 2017 on Kpler.
Nigeria's Growing Role as Swing Supplier
April imports from Nigeria were around 66,000 bpd so far, data from both sources showed. That is also the highest on record and highlights the country's growing role as a swing supplier of aviation fuel since the launch of the Dangote refinery, Africa's largest, in 2024.
European Oil Reserve Requirements and Market Dynamics
EU Emergency Oil Reserve Rules
An EU requirement stating countries must maintain 90 days of emergency oil reserves does not stipulate levels for specific fuels.
Regional Import and Export Patterns
Spain is a net exporter of jet fuel, while Britain, the region’s largest consumer, imports 65% of its demand, International Energy Agency (IEA) data shows.
Jet Fuel Storage Levels at ARA Hub
Levels of jet fuel fell to their lowest since March 2023 last week at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp storage hub, data on held independently held stocks showed. [ARA/]
Global Export Trends and Price Pressures
US and Nigerian Export Records
The United States is, however, already exporting at record highs. In the week ending April 3, the U.S. exported an estimated 442,000 barrels of jet fuel, double the 219,000 barrel average seen last year, Energy Information Administration data showed.
Nigeria was also exporting at record levels, with 416,000 bpd of products exported so far this month.
Jet Fuel Price Impact on Airlines
While the U.S. is the top consumer of jet fuel, exports to regions worse off such as Europe and Asia were fetching better prices.
However, Nigerian airlines on Thursday said they would suspend all flight operations from April 20 unless jet fuel prices were reduced, noting about a 270% jump since February.
IEA Warning on European Stockpile Levels
The IEA's latest monthly report stated that if European markets were unable to secure more than 50% of the volumes lost from the Gulf, stocks would hit a crucial 23-day stockpile level in June, a level at which physical shortages would begin.
(Reporting by Seher Dareen in London, additional reporting by Isaac Anyaogu in Lagos; Editing by Aurora Ellis, Alex Lawler and Jason Neely)
Key Takeaways
- •Europe depends on the Middle East for ~75% (~375,000 bpd) of its jet fuel imports; closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced a pivot to US supplies to plug the gap (globalbankingandfinance.com)
- •US jet fuel exports hit a record ~442,000 bpd in the week ending April 3, double the 2025 average—while April inflows to Europe are projected at 149,000–200,000 bpd, topping records back to 2015/2017 (argusmedia.com)
- •Despite these US volumes, Europe’s inventories—especially in the ARA hub—are at multi‑year lows and may fall below the critical 23‑day demand cover by June if only 50% of lost Middle East supply is replaced (argusmedia.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Europe sees record jet inflows from US in April
1Why is Europe increasing jet fuel imports from the US?
Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Europe's main supply from the Middle East is disrupted, leading it to source more jet fuel from the US.
2How much jet fuel is Europe importing from the US in April?
Europe is importing between 149,000 to 200,000 barrels per day of jet fuel from the US in April, a record high according to Kpler and LSEG data.
3What emergency actions are European airlines requesting?
European airlines are urging the EU to implement emergency measures, including widespread airspace closures, to address potential fuel shortages.
4What risk does Europe face if jet fuel imports from the Middle East don't recover?
The International Energy Agency warns that if Europe cannot replace more than 50% of lost Middle East volumes, stocks could hit the critical 23-day supply level by June, risking shortages.
5Which European countries are significant in jet fuel trade?
Spain is a net exporter of jet fuel, while Britain is the region's largest consumer and imports 65% of its demand.
