The first shipment of Russian diesel destined for the United States, after a surprise deal struck between Moscow and U.S. President Donald Trump, is aboard a tanker en route to New York, according to vessel-tracking data released on Friday.
Trump announced the agreement this month as part of his effort to curb the dizzying rise in diesel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
Trump also suspended parts of a new U.S. sanctions law against Russia and threatened Europe with a ban on U.S. diesel exports unless countries released more volumes from their emergency reserves to help ease prices.
The mid-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes, flying the Maltese flag, was loaded with 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel at the Russian port of Primorsk, on the Baltic, on October 22, according to navigation data from LSEG. Arrival in the United States is expected on November 7.
The identity of the buyer and seller was not disclosed immediately. The cargo will be the first imported by the U.S. since former President Joe Biden announced the prohibition on imports of Russian oil and refined products in 2022.
Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would export immediately 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, to the U.S. and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately after.”
A Kremlin spokesman confirmed on Friday that an initial ship, under the agreement, had departed, but did not specify whether it was heading for the U.S. market or some other location.
‘As far as I know, there have already been reports from the Energy Ministry that the first tanker did indeed depart toward its recipients, its buyers. Other shipments will continue at a steady pace from now on,’ said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a daily conference call.
The deal with the United States involved Russia lifting a self-imposed ban on diesel exports.
RUSSIA RESUMES GLOBAL EXPORTS
Since the European Union imposed a full embargo on imports of Russian petroleum derivatives in February 2023 due to the war in Ukraine, Russia has exported diesel primarily to Turkey and Brazil, as well as to African countries.
It also supplies Central Asia by rail.
Maritime transport data from LSEG and Kpler published this week showed diesel cargoes from Russia resuming voyages to their traditional destinations after Moscow lifted its own ban, with at least two tankers signaling trips to Turkey and Brazil.
It was not clear where other tankers were headed, with cargoes loaded at Primorsk pointing to Gibraltar, the Atlantic coast, or Port Said, according to LSEG data.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said additional shipments to the United States would follow as companies from the two countries drew up the necessary contracts.
Novak said Russia would be able to raise its diesel exports to the usual levels of 3 to 3.5 million tons per month by the end of the year.
