The first Russian diesel shipment bound for the United States under a recently announced agreement between Moscow and US President Donald Trump is aboard a tanker heading for New York, according to shipping data reported on Friday.
The development follows a deal announced by Trump this month as part of efforts to bring down soaring diesel prices ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections.
The agreement also involved Trump waiving parts of a new US sanctions law against Russia. He further threatened European countries with a US diesel export ban unless they released more fuel from their emergency reserves to help ease prices.
Tanker Carrying 40,000 Tons of Diesel
According to LSEG shipping data, the Malta-flagged medium-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel at Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22.
The vessel is expected to arrive in the United States on November 7. The identities of the buyer and seller were not immediately known.
If delivered as expected, the cargo will mark the first Russian oil product shipment imported by the United States since former President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and petroleum product imports in 2022.
Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, equivalent to approximately 2.25 million barrels, to the United States and global markets. He said a further 500,000 tons would follow in November, with another 1 million tons to be supplied “immediately thereafter”.
Kremlin Confirms First Shipment Has Departed
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that the first tanker under the agreement had departed, although he did not specify whether it was heading to the US market or another destination.
“As far as I’m aware, there have already been reports from the Ministry of Energy that the first tanker has, in fact, set sail for its recipients, its buyers. Further shipments will continue at a steady pace from here on,” Peskov said during a daily conference call.
The agreement includes Russia lifting its self-imposed ban on diesel exports, allowing additional supplies to reach international markets.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has said further shipments to the United States are expected as companies from both countries work out the necessary contracts.
Russia Resumes Diesel Exports to Traditional Markets
Russia has been redirecting its diesel exports since the European Union imposed a full embargo on Russian oil products in February 2023 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, Turkey and Brazil, along with several African countries, have become key destinations for Russian diesel. Russia also supplies Central Asian markets by rail.
Shipping data from LSEG and Kpler published this week showed Russian diesel cargoes returning to traditional destinations after Moscow lifted its export restrictions. At least two tankers indicated voyages to Turkey and Brazil.
The destinations of other tankers remained unclear. Some vessels carrying diesel loaded at Primorsk were signalling routes towards Gibraltar, the Atlantic coast or Port Said, according to LSEG data.
Payment Issues and Export Targets
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who also heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said last week that the US Treasury had asked the fund to help resolve payment issues associated with the agreement.
However, a source familiar with the matter said that account was inaccurate.
Novak has said Russia could increase diesel exports to its usual levels of between 3 million and 3.5 million metric tons per month by the end of the year.
The scale and pace of further deliveries to the United States will depend on commercial arrangements and the implementation of the agreement, as Moscow seeks to expand exports while Washington looks for ways to ease pressure on domestic fuel prices.
