Why has the US government granted waivers allowing foreign-flagged tankers to transport fuel between domestic ports?

The US government granted the waivers to cushion American consumers from escalating fuel prices caused by the Iran conflict, which halted most Persian Gulf energy shipments and created a war-driven price crunch; the waivers temporarily permit companies to ferry oil and fuels between US ports using foreign vessels, which typically charge lower fees.

Which companies are leading the use of these waivers, and what is the scale of activity so far?

Trafigura Group and Phillips 66 are the leading recipients of the waivers, with commodity traders, refiners, and other companies having hauled almost 50 cargoes of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products between US domestic ports—including from the Gulf Coast to California and Alaska—since the program began; more than 35 waivers have been granted in the past four weeks, tripling the issuance rate of the first four weeks.

Trafigura Leads Race to Move US Fuel In-Country on Foreign Ships

May 14, 2026

Trafigura and Phillips 66 lead recipients of US waivers allowing foreign tankers to transport domestic fuel, facilitating over 50 cargoes amid rising prices driven by the Iran conflict. The policy eases consumer costs but draws criticism from domestic shippers.

bloomberg

2026-05-14

Trafigura Leads Race to Move US Fuel In-Country on Foreign Ships

2026-06-04

Trafigura's first-half profit smashes 2025 full-year total

2026-06-08

Trafigura Halts Some Cuban Zinc Shipments as US Blockade Bites

2026-07-15

Lead Prices Slump as Trafigura Lifts LME Stockpiles to a Record

2026-08-11

Phillips 66 Profit Surges

Trafigura Leads Race to Move US Fuel In-Country on Foreign Ships

FAQ