Amid ongoing trade-related issues, India has for the first time exported jet fuel to the United States West Coast. The shipment has been arranged for Chevron, which is a major global energy company.

A Reuters report said that this export chance came up because supplies in Los Angeles were tight after an operational problem at Chevron's El Segundo refinery in southern California and the disruption took place in October and affected several units at the large facility that can process 2,85,000 barrels per day.

The aviation fuel cargo, which totalled 60000 metric tons or 4,72,800 barrels, left Jamnagar port between October 28 and 29, and the shipment came from the Reliance Industries refinery, according to Kpler, LSEG data and industry sources quoted in the report.

The vessel Hafnia Kallang, which is a Panamax tanker hired by Castleton Commodities, is expected to reach Los Angeles in early December, according to several shipbroking sources mentioned in the report.

Chevron has said that repair work at the El Segundo jet fuel production unit is likely to finish in early 2026.

Jet fuel supply on the United States West Coast is expected to stay tight until the El Segundo unit completes its repairs, according to two industry sources.

In an official statement, it was said, "Chevron remains focused on supplying its customers around the world, including those supplied by the El Segundo refinery, and may utilise local or imported product to do so."

Industry experts say that regular imports from India to the United States West Coast are unlikely because cheaper and closer supply options are available from Northeast Asia.

Transport costs for nearly 40000 metric tons of refined fuel from South Korea to the United States West Coast have stayed steady at 40 dollars per ton since October, according to SSY pricing data.

Spot freight rates for shipments between India and the United States West Coast are not easy to track because this route is rarely used.

Jet fuel exports from Northeast Asia to the United States West Coast reached a five-month high of nearly 600,000 tons last month, according to Kpler shiptracking data.

Market conditions remain strong because United States West Coast jet fuel prices are higher than Singapore spot free onboard prices by 10 dollars per barrel.

As of November 7, United States West Coast jet fuel stocks were at a three-month low at 11.12 million barrels.