Europe’s diesel supply situation has gotten so tight that the region is drawing on imports from Mexico for the first time in seven years as the Iran war and a halt in Russian cargoes upends historical trade flows. State oil company Petroleos Mexicanos has shipped nearly 300,000 barrels of ultra low sulfur diesel to Spain this month, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler Ltd and data compiled by Bloomberg. Pemex didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

The trade flow is the latest sign of a market being reshaped by upheaval. Mexico is typically a major diesel importer. Now, the market is so hot in Europe that it’s profitable for Mexican suppliers to ship out cargoes even if that means the nation needs to increase its own imports.

Prices for the fuel have taken off this year on the global supply disruptions. Diesel traded in New York has more than doubled in 2026, making it the world’s best-performing commodity. The sky-rocketing prices are drawing out unusual cargoes, like the shipments from Mexico.

Over the years, Mexico has occasionally shipped to Europe lower quality diesel that can be used as ship fuel or in blending. The last time Pemex exported diesel that meets Europe’s strict road-fuel standards was in 2019, an analysis of Kpler data show. In July, a cargo containing little enough sulfur to meet the European road-fuel standards was delivered to Italy, and another one to France in April, the data show. Tightness in global diesel markets may persist as Russia’s government is considering extending its diesel export ban.