The US Department of Energy uses a reserve that many countries will need at the same time during the next oil shock. Reuters reported on November 9 a reduction in the US strategic reserve to 279.5 million barrels, the lowest since October 1982. In one week, 2.7 million left - according to Dropsight, the highest number since the end of August. Since the end of 2025, the reserve has lost about 32% of its contents. The war with Iran requires the release of stored oil in case of emergency disruptions.
The end of the current issuance program is near. The administration of US President Donald Trump finalized the latest contracts for about 40 million barrels for delivery in November and December. They complement the US commitment of 172 million as part of the agreed international release of reserves. Manufacturers and carriers will have to replace the current coming from emergency storage facilities for several months.
Foreign buyers are particularly concerned about the diesel supply. The US exported about 1.3 million barrels per day this year, which helped supply Europe and Latin America. Cargo transportation requires ready-made fuel of a certain quality with timely delivery. If American supplies are cut off, importers will turn to those sellers for replacements. It will be necessary to look for a replacement among the reduced export streams: in September, global exports of diesel and oil lagged behind last year by about 700,000 barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency.
The stored oil has not yet been processed. From 42 gallons of feed, a U.S. plant typically produces 11 to 13 gallons of low-sulfur distillates, which are mostly sold as diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Factories change the output of individual products taking into account demand and processing profitability. Damaged factories require repairs, supplies - free ships.