Seoul: Exports of diesel by South Korea's four oil refiners reached an all-time high last year despite a decrease in overall shipments of petroleum products, data showed Monday. A record 233.7 million barrels of diesel were exported in 2025, marking a 0.4 percent increase from the previous year's 216.6 million barrels.

According to Yonhap News Agency, total exports of petroleum products fell by 1.1 percent on-year to 485.4 million barrels last year. Diesel accounted for 42 percent of the total exports, with gasoline, jet fuel, and naphtha making up 22 percent, 18 percent, and 7 percent, respectively.

In terms of value, exports of petroleum products decreased by 9.9 percent from the previous year to US$40.7 billion in 2025. The export volume represents 51.9 percent of the 935 million barrels of crude oil imported by the country last year, while their value accounts for 59.5 percent of the $68.4 billion spent on crude oil imports, according to the association.

By country, Australia was the largest buyer of South Korea's petroleum products with a share of 16.8 percent, followed by Singapore at 13.6 percent, Japan at 11.3 percent, and the United States at 10.2 percent. Notably, exports to the U.S. increased by 15 percent on-year to a record 49.6 million barrels, driven by strong demand for jet fuel.

A KPA official noted that persistent global economic uncertainty, geopolitical risks, and high oil price volatility due to oversupply are expected to make the export environment challenging this year. The focus will be on exporting high value-added products to support national exports and enhance global competitiveness.