A tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is headed for New York, according to ship-tracking data released on Friday, following a deal reached between Moscow and Washington earlier this month.
The shipment would mark the first US import of Russian oil or petroleum products since then-President Joe Biden announced a ban on such imports in 2022. The development comes after US President Donald Trump announced the surprise deal on October 9 as part of efforts to bring down soaring diesel prices ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. He also projected that Russia could raise its diesel exports to their usual levels of 3 million to 3.5 million tons per month by the end of the year.
Trump also waived parts of a new US sanctions law against Moscow and threatened to ban diesel exports to Europe unless countries released more fuel from their emergency reserves to help ease prices.
As announced by Trump on October 9, Russia was to “immediately export” 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, of diesel to the US and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million tons “immediately thereafter”. The identities of the buyer and seller were not immediately known. The agreement also involved Russia lifting a self-imposed ban on diesel exports. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated that further shipments would follow as Russian and US companies finalise delivery contracts.