First Russian diesel from Putin-Trump deal heading for US, data shows

A Russian diesel tanker loaded with 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulfur diesel recently departed from Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk, according to LSEG shipping data, on October 22. The ship, identified as the Agioi Fanendes and operated under Malta's flag, is scheduled to reach the United States on November 7. This marks the first import of Russian diesel into the U.S. following a surprise agreement between Moscow and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The deal was announced by Trump in October as part of his strategy to alleviate increasingly high diesel prices ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. Trump also opted to waive certain parts of a new US sanctions law against Russia and threatened Europe with a potential US diesel export ban unless they increased their emergency reserves to support price stability.

The identities of the buyer and seller for this specific shipment have not been disclosed. The cargo will be the first imported by the U.S. since former President Joe Biden issued a ban on US imports of Russian oil and petroleum products in 2022. Trump had previously announced that Russia would export 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets initially, followed by 500,000 tons in November and another million tons immediately thereafter.

A Kremlin spokesperson on Friday confirmed that the first ship under the deal had departed, though they did not specify its destination. Russia had previously exported diesel mainly to Turkey, Brazil, and African countries, with additional shipments heading to Central Asia via rail. Shipping data from LSEG and Kpler indicated that Russian diesel cargoes resumed voyages to their traditional destinations after Moscow lifted its own ban, with tankers headed to Gibraltar, the Atlantic Coast, or Port Said.