First Russian diesel tanker heads to US after Trump-Putin deal
Photo: The tanker was being loaded on October 22 (Getty Images)
The first Russian tanker carrying diesel fuel is already en route to the US after President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia. The vessel will arrive in New York, according to Reuters.
According to LSEG data, on October 22, the medium-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes was loaded with 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel at the port of Primorsk. The vessel is flying the Maltese flag and is expected to arrive in the US on November 7.
The identities of the buyer and seller remain unknown. However, it is worth noting that this shipment will be the first to be imported into the US since former President Joe Biden announced a ban on imports of Russian oil and petroleum products into the US in 2022.
On Friday, a Kremlin spokesperson confirmed the departure of the first vessel under the agreement but did not specify whether it was headed for the US market or another country.
"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," said Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
Background
US President Donald Trump announced the diesel deal in October as part of his efforts to lower rising diesel prices ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3.
Specifically, he stated that Russia would immediately export 300 metric tons of diesel to US and global markets, followed by 500,000 metric tons in November and 1 million metric tons immediately thereafter.
He also highlighted certain provisions of the new US sanctions law against Russia and threatened Europe with a ban on diesel fuel exports from the US if countries do not release more funds from their reserves to lower prices.
