Asia's diesel exports to Africa are set to reach a four-and-a-half-year high in August as buyers seek alternatives to disrupted Middle East supplies.
Data from tracking firm Kpler indicates Asian shipments will hit up to 2 million metric tons this month. Meanwhile, Middle East exports to Africa dropped to near nine-year lows of 600,000 to 800,000 tons.
The shift follows severe regional conflict and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's Jazan refinery, alongside blockades in the Red Sea. Shipping risks through the Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz straits have further curbed Middle Eastern supply, which traditionally accounts for half of Africa's diesel imports.
Analysts expect Africa to continue drawing heavily from Asian suppliers in the near term as refining output in Asia rebounds and European options remain unviable.