President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he has advocated internally for restricting U.S. diesel exports as national average prices surged past a record high.
The president was asked about the possibility of such a move while speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “I’ve called for that too. I’ve said let’s not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel. That could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline,” Trump said.
He added, “I’ve called for it. I’ve called for it within my people. I’ve been talking about it.” The president further indicated that a decision on the matter would come “fast, one way or the other.” He also noted that limiting exports “could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline because when you do that, you know, it’s a sort of a flow. It’s a balance.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking at the same event alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the administration is reviewing options. “We’re examining whether it’s feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity and whether a full or partial ban would work,” Bessent stated.
The secretary added that officials are assessing the measure without disrupting refinery operations.
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The comments came as the AAA national average diesel price reached $6.5276 per gallon on September 22, a record high, compared with $3.6880 a year earlier. EIA data showed the weekly on-highway average at $6.529 per gallon for the week of September 21.
Diesel prices have risen due to global supply constraints linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which began in late February. The conflict has led to significant energy strains due to closures of the Strait of Hormuz, which was responsible for the transit of roughly 20 percent of global energy supplies prior to the start of the conflict.
The conflict in Ukraine has led to further constraints, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and Russia’s own diesel export restrictions have further tightened world supplies.
The United States exports roughly 1.3 million to 1.6 million barrels per day of diesel, representing a substantial share of domestic refining output. U.S. on-road diesel inventories have fallen below seasonal averages, with recent figures around 97 million barrels.
Republican lawmakers from agricultural states, including Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and others facing midterm races, have urged restrictions to prioritize domestic users such as farmers and truckers. “American fuel should stay home with Americans. The cost of diesel is just too damn high. I’m calling for a temporary pause of American diesel exports so that we can rebuild our reserves ahead of winter and put American and Alaskan families first,” Sullivan told reporters on Capitol Hill.
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