Russia plans first diesel shipment to US under temporary sanctions waiver
Russia plans to send its first tanker carrying diesel fuel to the United States on Oct. 22, following Washington's decision to temporarily authorize Russian diesel shipments, according to Russian officials and Ukraine's presidential sanctions adviser.
The planned shipment amounts to 40,000 metric tons of diesel, equivalent to approximately 300,000 barrels.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said contracts for diesel supplies to the United States were nearing completion, according to Russian state news agency TASS. President Vladimir Putin also said tankers would depart for the US within days.
The shipment has not yet been independently confirmed as underway.
On Oct. 9, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Putin on Russian diesel supplies. The US Treasury Department subsequently issued a temporary general license authorizing Russian diesel shipments to international markets.
Ukrainian presidential sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk questioned the economic rationale for importing Russian fuel into a country that is itself a major diesel exporter.
Citing US Energy Information Administration data, Vlasiuk said the planned shipment would cover less than two hours of US diesel consumption, estimated at approximately 4 million barrels per day.
He also noted that the United States exports roughly 1.5 million barrels of diesel daily.
According to Vlasiuk, the voyage from Russia's Ust-Luga port to US terminals would take approximately two and a half to three weeks.
Russia has indicated that additional shipments could follow and that it hopes to restore diesel export volumes to other markets by the end of the year.