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Sources say that key Asian fuel exporters increased jet fuel sales in Europe to Europe during July.

According to data from shiptracking and industry sources, jet fuel exports to Europe from South Korea and China, as well as Southeast Asia, likely reached a record high for a number of years in July, when traders sold excess regional supplies to take advantage of higher European prices.

Three trade and shipping sources, including Vortexa, showed that the Asian exporters will ship between 600,000 and 775,000 metric tonnes (4.728-6.107 millions barrels) in aviation fuel into Europe this month. The majority of these are from China and South Korea.

Vortexa says the volume is at a nearly three-year high, while sources in the trade say it's highest since five years.

Exports from northeast Asia to Europe reached nearly 500,000 tonnes last month.

Exports to the West will continue to reduce Asia's glut of supply and help to limit price declines in Asia.

Ivan Mathews is Vortexa's Head of APAC Analysis. He expects that exports will ease up in August, as the arbitrage margins are narrowing.

Prices of jet fuel in Northwest Europe The average cost per ton in Asia is $65 higher. LSEG data revealed that the price per ton was $50 last month.

After the Iran-Israel conflict, shipbroker SSY reported that the cost of shipping 90,000 tonnes of jet fuel via LR2 tanks fell from $4.4 millions in June to $3.75million in July.

Eurocontrol data showed that the number of flights in Europe is up 4% on a year-over-year basis and 3% above levels for 2019. This shows a robust demand.

Stockpiles of aviation fuel independently held in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining and storage hub were at 745,000 tons last week, the lowest since February this year, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed.

This level is lower than the average weekly volume for 2024, which is 881,000 tonnes.

Exports from China were also a big help. Industry estimates show that the world's largest refiner will ship more than 2.3 millions tons of aviation fuel in August, which is similar to what it did in July.

Analysts from FGE consultancy said that China's jet fuel and kerosene overall exports will remain high in the next few months, as top refiner Sinopec increases output at a time when domestic flight demand is plateauing.

Two China-based sources stated that jet fuel exports were the most profitable product for Chinese refiners, compared to other products.

(source: Reuters)