AXPC: Diesel Export Restrictions Would Backfire on Consumers and Choke Off Investment in Domestic Production

September 23, 2026 

WASHINGTON – American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) CEO Anne Bradbury today released the following statement responding to calls to restrict American producers and petroleum refiners from reaching export markets:

“While well intentioned, diesel export restrictions would have massive and far-reaching implications on the entire oil and natural gas value chain, as well as American consumers. Export restrictions would create bottlenecks from refineries to upstream producers while increasing prices for many domestic products and weakening our energy security. Policymakers should reject this short-sighted approach and instead focus on solutions that will actually lower prices at the pump.”

BACKGOUND

• Eliminating the ability of US oil producers and petroleum refiners to reach export markets will increase retail diesel and gasoline prices for many Americans. 
• Record domestic oil production has helped position America as the single largest supplier of diesel on the global market, keeping retail prices from rising even higher during this historic disruption. That’s because diesel and gasoline are globally traded commodities and America produces more than 1.5 million more barrels of distillate than it consumes. 
• Tightening global supply and trapping a glut of fuel on the Gulf Coast would force refineries to cut runs, raising the price of not just diesel, but also gasoline and jet fuel. 
• On top of price increases, the resulting reduction in domestic refining would choke off investment in American oil production.