Russian diesel cargo travels to US following agreement between Trump and Putin

A cargo tanker transporting Russian diesel is en route to the United States following an understanding reached between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to tracking data from LSEG.

The medium-sized, Malta-flagged vessel Agioi Fanendes took on 40,000 metric tonnes of ultra-low sulphur diesel at the Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22. Shipping records show the vessel is scheduled to reach New York on November 7.

The voyage follows an agreement under which Moscow decided to end its internal restrictions on exporting diesel, allowing supplies to flow to international buyers, including the American market. Trump previously stated on October 9 that Russia planned to immediately send out 300,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to roughly 2.25 million barrels, with deliveries expanding to 500,000 tonnes in November and an additional one million tonnes shortly after.

The arrangement comes as the American administration attempts to ease domestic fuel costs ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. As part of those efforts, Trump granted waivers on certain elements of recent US sanctions legislation concerning Russia. He has also warned European nations that the US might prohibit diesel exports unless they tap into their strategic emergency stockpiles to assist overall supply.

Russian authorities anticipate a broader recovery in shipments. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that monthly diesel exports could climb back to standard levels of between three million and 3.5 million tonnes by the close of the year. While several fuel shipments left Primorsk recently, their specific endpoints have remained uncertain, with vessels transmitting signals pointing toward Port Said, Gibraltar, or broader Atlantic routes.

Trade flows for Russian refined products have shifted substantially since February 2023, when the European Union enacted a comprehensive prohibition on importing Russian oil products following the invasion of Ukraine. Since that ban took effect, Moscow has redirected the bulk of its diesel outbound traffic toward markets in Turkey, Brazil, and multiple African states.