Europe yet to give up Russian diesel
The continent is loath to tackle its dependence upon imports of Russian refined products
The crack spread—the theoretical margin between buying crude and selling the refined product—for European diesel is at record highs. While this would not at first glance be a surprise, given the continent has been highly dependent on Russian supply, the physical diesel balances remain healthier for now than the record cracks would indicate, says Pamela Munger, senior analyst at energy analytics firm Vortexa. There has not been a decline in diesel flows from Russia to Europe so far, and Europe remains well-supplied, Munger continues. Russian loadings of diesel heading for Europe shot up in late February and then into March, before dipping slightly to levels comparable to the start of the year
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally






