Tanker carrying 40,000 tons of Russian diesel heads to US after Trump-Putin deal
A tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is heading to New York following an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on October 23, citing LSEG shipping data.
The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22 and is expected to arrive in the United States on November 7.
The shipment follows an October 9 agreement under which Russia agreed to resume diesel exports to international markets, including the United States.
Trump announced that Russia would initially export 300,000 metric tons of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons thereafter.
The US administration has taken steps to lower diesel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, including easing parts of a new sanctions law targeting Russia.
The first shipment is expected to arrive four days after the elections.
The 40,000-ton cargo is equivalent to roughly 300,000 barrels of diesel, less than two hours of US consumption at approximately 4 million barrels per day.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow could restore monthly diesel exports to between 3 million and 3.5 million tons by the end of the year.
Since the European Union banned imports of Russian petroleum products in February 2023 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has primarily exported diesel to countries including Brazil and Turkey.
- Share: