First Russian Diesel Tanker Heads for the US After Deal, Could Arrive November 7

The first Russian diesel tanker has set off for the United States following a deal between Russia and the US. According to shipping data, the tanker is heading toward New York and could arrive on November 7.

US President Donald Trump announced the deal with Russia this month as part of efforts to bring down high diesel prices in the United States.

With the midterm elections on November 3 ahead, keeping fuel prices under control has become important for his administration, and this shipment gains significance in that context.

According to London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) data, the Malta-flagged medium-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulphur diesel at Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22.

The buyer and seller of the cargo, however, were not immediately known.

If confirmed, it could be the first import of a Russian fuel product into the US since then-president Joe Biden banned imports of Russian oil and petroleum products in 2022 — giving the shipment considerable symbolic weight.

Trump said on October 9 that Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, of oil to the US and world markets.

A further 500,000 tons was planned for November, with another one million tons to follow later.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the first vessel under the deal had begun its journey, though he did not confirm whether it was destined for the US market.

Citing information from Russia's energy ministry about the first tanker's departure, Peskov said further shipments would follow regularly and that Russia would lift its self-imposed voluntary ban on diesel exports under the deal.

Since the European Union banned imports of Russian refined fuel products in February 2023 amid the Ukraine war, Russia has mainly exported diesel to Turkey, Brazil and African countries, and also supplies fuel by rail to Central Asia.

According to LSEG and Kepler data, Russian diesel tankers have begun sailing to old destinations since the export ban was lifted; at least two tankers have been tracked heading to Turkey and Brazil.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said more fuel would be sent to the US once the necessary contracts between the two countries' companies are completed. By the end of this year, he said, Russia could raise diesel exports to a normal three to three-and-a-half million tons per month.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed the US Treasury had sought cooperation from Russia's sovereign wealth fund to resolve payment complications for the diesel deal.

Whether the tanker reaches New York on schedule and whether regular shipments follow will now be the real test of this new energy understanding.