India has stopped exporting diesel to the European Union due to the EU's ban on fuel derived from Russian crude and instead sent a record amount to West Africa, according to shipping data from Kpler and Vortexa. This development highlights that the EU policy is prompting a reordering of intercontinental oil flows, forcing India's oil refineries to seek new markets and disrupting Turkey's lucrative trade in supplying fuel to the EU. The EU ban aims to punish Russia over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
As a result, Indian diesel exports to West Africa have jumped to an all-time high, while Turkey's diesel exports to the EU slowed down in recent months. The EU will allow fuel imports from oil refineries that can segregate Russian crude, providing a new refining loophole for some countries. India has been the third biggest diesel exporter to the EU in 2025, but stopped exporting to the bloc this month.
In contrast, Turkey's Star oil refinery continued to import Russian crude despite the ban. The EU policy is prompting a shift in global oil flows, with more Indian diesel going into Africa and free up Middle Eastern supply for Europe. This is forcing India's oil refineries to seek new markets and disrupting Turkey's trade in supplying fuel to the EU.
S. and Middle Eastern countries reached a three-month high in January as the bloc diversified supply ahead of the ban. Indian diesel exports to West Africa were on track to reach an all-time high in December at around 155,000 bpd, according to Kpler, which showed January exports were on pace to reach 84,000 bpd.
The EU's ban on Russian-derived fuel is having a significant impact on global oil flows, and it will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the coming months.
The EU's policy of banning Russian-derived fuel is likely to have long-term consequences for global oil markets, with more countries seeking alternative sources of crude. As India and Turkey adjust to new market realities, it will be important to monitor the impact on energy prices and supply chains.
