Northwest Europe gross diesel margins hit their highest since September 2023, with the diesel crack versus Brent near $46/bbl. Supply from Russia is under pressure from US sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft, Ukrainian refinery attacks, and an EU import ban on fuel made from Russian crude starting January 21.
Tightening diesel supply raises fuel costs for trucking and farm logistics and signals stronger refinery run incentives, with upward pressure on diesel prices.
After 250 past bullish geopolitics events, ULSD / Diesel moved a median +1.7% over 5 sessions (58% higher; middle half -3.6% to +8.7%), and +0.9% over 20.
After 63 past neutral geopolitics events, Crude Oil (Brent) moved a median -0.5% over 5 sessions (44% higher; middle half -4.4% to +2.6%), and -2.7% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.