SINGAPORE, July 31 Reuters India39;s diesel and jet fuel shipments to Singapore and Australia are set to hit the highest levels in 212 years in July as sellers looked east with demand tepid from Europe, according to industry sources and shipping data.

The jump in middle distillates exports from swing supplier India to the Asia Pacific will likely cap prices and refiners39; margins in the region, while preventing a further buildup in inventories in Europe which have been weighing on prices there, the sources said.

India, one of Asia39;s leading fuel exporters, is expected to ship between 157,000 bpd and 224,000 bpd of diesel and jet fuel to Singapore and Australia in July, estimates from LSEG, Vortexa, Kpler and two trade sources showed, the highest since end2021 and early 2022. This would be about 30 higher than June.

The volume to Australia is expected to surge to a more than twoyear high of 450,000 metric tons, LSEG Oil Research said in a note. BP and Vitol shipped most of the volumes to Australia where they have fuel distribution businesses, while Shell shipped cargoes to Singapore, Kpler and LSEG data showed.

Planned refinery maintenance in Australia prompted some local refiners to buy more spot cargoes than usual, one of the sources added.

Also, the rise in Australia39;s imports comes after a government mandate to increase refined products stockpiles that took effect from July, two Asian refinery sources said.

Meanwhile, India39;s middle distillates exports to…