A tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is sailing toward New York under a new supply arrangement between the United States and Russia, signaling a possible resumption of fuel trade suspended by Washington’s 2022 ban on Russian oil and petroleum product imports.
The Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes loaded ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Primorsk, Russia’s Baltic Sea oil terminal, on October 22. According to LSEG vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters, the tanker is expected to reach the United States on November 7. The companies involved in the transaction have not yet been identified.
The shipment is the first identified cargo bound for the United States under an agreement announced by President Donald Trump on October 9. Reports have described it as the first Russian diesel import into the U.S. since the 2022 restrictions took effect. Maritime intelligence firm Kpler, however, places the most recent previous delivery in July 2023.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Reuters on Friday that the first tanker operating under the arrangement had departed. He added that further deliveries would follow on a regular basis. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has also indicated that additional shipments are planned as companies in both countries complete their supply contracts.
The agreement combines a relaxation of U.S. sanctions with Russia’s decision to remove its own restrictions on diesel exports. Trump announced an initial release of 300,000 metric tons of diesel into U.S. and international markets, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and a further 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.”
The move comes as the Trump administration seeks to curb rising diesel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. However, the tanker’s expected arrival on November 7 means the fuel will reach the United States after Election Day.
The cargo, estimated at approximately 300,000 barrels, represents around 7% of U.S. daily diesel consumption, which stands at roughly 4 million barrels, according to the Associated Press. Despite the additional supply, energy policy experts cited by AP have questioned whether the agreement will deliver any significant reduction in fuel prices.
The arrangement has also attracted criticism from Ukraine, which continues to call on its international partners to tighten restrictions on Russian energy revenues as Moscow pursues its war against Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Washington’s decision as “a weak decision by strong partners,” according to AP.
While the shipment signals a renewed channel for Russian diesel to enter the U.S. market, its broader effects on fuel prices and the future of bilateral energy trade remain uncertain.
