London, Sept. 21 (SANA)Europeis expected to face a shortage in jetfuel suppliesduring the fourth quarter of the year despite turning to distant suppliers, includingSouth Korea, as inventories decline and supply routes face disruptions, according to global shipping data.Energy consultancy Energy Aspects estimated that Europe could record a jet fuel deficit of around 510,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter, compared with a surplus of 18,000 barrels per day in the United States and 419,000 barrels per day in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Reuters.European imports of jet fuel have increased from suppliers includingNigeria, theUnited StatesandCanadasince the outbreak of theMiddle East conflictmore than six months ago, which affected supplies from the region and reduced nearly half of Europe’s jet fuel imports.Shipping flow data showed that South Korea has become a major supplier of jet fuel shipments to Europe this month. Data from commodity analytics firm Kpler showed that European imports from South Korea reached 129,000 barrels per day since the beginning of September, the highest level since October 2022.London Stock Exchange Group data showed similar shipment volumes.James Noel-Beswick, head of commodities at market intelligence firm Sparta Commodities, said continued shortages in Europe are expected to support demand for imports.Falling inventoriesThe increase in South Korean shipments coincides with declining fuel stocks, with independently held inventories at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp refining and storage hub falling in the week ending Sept. 10 to their lowest level in seven years.Asia remains a flexible supplier of jet fuel to Europe, with traders typically turning to the region when price differences between markets make shipments economically viable. Kpler data showed that average monthly exports from Asia reached 1.5 million barrels last year.South Korean government data showed that the country’s jet fuel production reached a seven-year high of about 13.89 million barrels in July, while exports reached their highest level in three and a half years.The increase was driven by higher crude processing rates at refineries, with traders expecting refinery utilization rates in August to be higher than in July.