China’s major refiners have suspended most refined fuel exports for October as Beijing prioritises domestic supply security, removing another source of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel from an already tight global market.

Reuters reported that refiners have not received approval to export fuel products outside Hong Kong and Macau during October. PetroChina has cancelled several gasoline and jet fuel cargoes scheduled for the month, according to people familiar with the matter.

Kpler estimates China’s commercial diesel and gasoil inventories are about 20 million barrels below pre-war levels, while gasoline stocks are roughly 9 million barrels short of the threshold Beijing wants restored.

China had raised exports sharply during the summer. Official data showed oil-product exports reached 6.01 million tonnes in August, up 12.7 per cent year-on-year.

The pause comes as global diesel supplies are already squeezed by Middle East disruptions and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Brent crude reclaimed $100 a barrel on Thursday after the report.

Shipments could resume after China’s week-long holiday ends on October 7, depending on domestic inventories.