Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Australia's jet fuel reaches 'critical shortage' as China's export ban intensifies global scramble for supply, Degree of recognition National Media name/outlet The West Australian Media type Web Duration/Length/Size 4 min read Country/Territory Australia Date 23/04/26 Description This article reports on Australia's jet fuel position following China's ban on jet fuel exports other than to Hong Kong and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the heavy sour crude refined into jet fuel across Asian refineries transits. Dr Lurion De Mello provides the article's central assessment, identifying jet fuel rather than diesel or petrol as the critical shortage on the grounds that it is not held in bulk but stored around airports, making it acutely exposed to any interruption. He judges supply adequate to mid-May with capacity reduction available as a buffer, while warning that Australia's heavy reliance on South Korean refineries creates material risk should Korea cap exports, and notes the recent diversification of April cargoes to Taiwanese and Malaysian sources. Drawing on shipping data, he identifies three South Korean tankers carrying approximately 850,000 barrels of jet fuel inbound to Australian ports through mid-May, with typical sailing times of around two weeks. The piece sets this against Qantas cutting one in twenty domestic flights, Virgin Australia's inability to secure supply assurances beyond May, jet fuel costs having doubled since February, Brent crude trading above US$103, and IEA warnings that Europe holds roughly six weeks of jet fuel cover. Producer/Author Tom Richardson URL https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/australias-jet-fuel-reaches-critical-shortage-as-chinas-export-ban-intensifies-global-scramble-for-supply-c-22181201 Persons Lurion De Mello