White House asks refiners to keep more diesel at home

The Trump administration is asking U.S. refiners to voluntarily reduce diesel exports and keep more fuel in the domestic market, with diesel prices holding above $6.50 a gallon nationwide. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters the administration wants exporters to trim overseas shipments and rebuild domestic inventories rather than impose an immediate export ban.

Wright summed up the message to refiners bluntly: "You gotta put Americans first." The move follows the Energy Information Administration's report of a $6.529 national average retail diesel price for the week ending September 21, up from $6.285 a week earlier. Midwest diesel averaged $6.680.

President Trump publicly backed the idea earlier in the week, telling reporters at the United Nations on September 22, "I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said officials are studying whether a full or partial export restriction would work.

Industry groups are pushing back. The American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warn that blocking exports could backfire by filling storage and forcing refiners to cut crude processing, which would also reduce gasoline and jet fuel output.

Why it matters

Washington is now directly pressuring refiners over diesel supply, but there is no federal order yet, so relief at the pump is not guaranteed. Watch the weekly EIA number to see if the voluntary approach moves prices.