G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel to ease supply pressures
Quick Look
- The G7 has agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel to ease supply pressures that have driven prices up, with the move including a substantial diesel release in the coming days.
- The agreement follows threats by former US President Donald Trump to ban diesel exports, which he said would ease prices for US consumers but raise them elsewhere.
- The G7 committed to refrain from export restrictions on energy products among members, with the release coordinated by the IEA over four months to stabilize supplies and shield households and businesses from price shocks.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The G7 agreement comes amid elevated energy prices driven by supply constraints, including reduced flows from Russia and China, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Former President Trump had previously threatened to ban US diesel exports to ease domestic prices, a move that could have disrupted global markets.
The G7 has agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel in a bid to ease supply pressures that have caused prices to skyrocket.
The group of advanced economies, including the US, said the move would include a "substantial release" of diesel in the coming days.
President Donald Trump had threatened to ban diesel exports in a move which would have eased pressure on prices for US consumers ahead of November's midterm elections, but pushed up prices elsewhere.
In a joint statement, the G7 said member countries had now agreed to "refrain from export restrictions on energy and energy products" on one another.
The G7 includes the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and France, with the EU also represented at its meetings.
Trump had warned he would ban diesel exports from the US if European countries did not agree to put more of their own stocks onto the market.
On Friday, he said on social media: "Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately."
His Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had argued US farmers, truckers, and businesses "should not be left carrying the burden" as prices soar.
Diesel is used heavily by the haulage industry and in agriculture, meaning rises in the cost of the fuel feed through into essentials such as food.
But, following a meeting of G7 leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc had agreed to release reserves of "up to 100 million barrels" within four months under the coordination of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The UK was represented at the meeting by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who said the measures would "stabilise energy supplies, build resilience in supply chains and shield households and businesses from price shocks".
Macron said the coordinated action would "bring down the prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel".
The 100 million barrels will comprise a mix of diesel and crude oil.
European countries had pushed back against US threats to turn off American diesel, against a backdrop of the US-led war in the Middle East and reduced supplies from Russia and China.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Diesel prices will decline in the US and Europe over the next 4-6 weeks as the released supply enters the market
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Which specific countries will contribute to the 100 million barrel release?
- What is the exact timeline for the diesel release beyond 'coming days'?
- How will the release be monitored and verified by the IEA?
