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India's April Diesel Exports are likely to have reached the lowest level for over a decade.

Analysts and trade sources said that India's diesel imports in April likely reached their lowest level for over a decade as Reliance, a major exporter, cut refinery output to maintain equipment at a time of robust domestic demand.

India, Asia's third largest diesel exporter, exported approximately 1.15 million metric tonnes (9.69 millions barrels) of this industrial and transportation fuel during April, according to a combination of data from LSEG Kpler Vortexa, and two other trade sources.

According to official data, this would be the lowest level since February 2012. It is also a substantial drop from the nearly 1-1/2-year high of 2,83 million tonnes registered in March.

The official export figures for April will be released in the last weeks of May.

Charles Ong, senior analyst at LSEG Oil Research, wrote that the unexpectedly low Indian oil exports for April led to limited supplies being sent to Asia and Europe.

India's drop in exports has partially supported Asia's 10-ppm spot gasoil premium For most of April, the price of oil rose to its highest level for more than three months. Prices jumped from 16 cents to $90 per barrel.

Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, western India, which operates the largest refinery complex in the world, closed some of its units in April for maintenance.

According to two sources and LSEG, the company's exports of diesel fell to 800,000 tonnes in April.

Reliance didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.

Data shows that Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals sold just one cargo in April. Normally, the company exports three cargoes of 65,000 to 70,000 tons per month. One refinery source said that the rest was likely sold on domestic markets.

He added that the higher jet fuel margins in India encouraged refiners to produce more aviation than diesel.

The discount between jet-fuel and 10ppm gasoil in April was around 80 cents per barrel, down from over $1 per barrel in March.

Two sources say that exports for May are expected to increase to 2 million tonnes, due to Reliance's return to production.

One of them stated that MRPL would begin maintenance on one of its crude units which will limit diesel exports.

(source: Reuters)