Russia’s First Diesel Tanker To US Since 2022 Is Set To Sail After Sanctions Waiver

Russia will send its first shipment of 40,000 tonnes of diesel to the United States on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. The shipment comes after Russia lifted its diesel export ban on October 9, following Ukrainian drone attacks on its oil refineries.

The shipment is part of a deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to resume Russian fuel supplies. However, analysts expect the planned deliveries to have little effect on global diesel prices.

Novak said on Wednesday that the tanker would carry 40,000 tonnes of diesel and that the paperwork was nearly complete, according to Russian news outlet Vedomosti. He did not say which port the shipment would leave from.

Trump has announced plans for Russia to supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel initially, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes later. Novak said more shipments would follow and that Russia would supply as much as it could to meet US demand.

Russia banned diesel exports to deal with fuel shortages at home after Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted its oil refineries. The government lifted the restrictions on October 9, allowing suppliers to resume exports.

The first shipment to the US is part of the wider agreement announced by Trump. However, the port of departure and dates for further shipments have not been confirmed.

The US exports about 1.5 million barrels of diesel per day, according to the supplied information.

Diesel supplies remain tight in several markets, including Europe, where disruptions to energy exports from the Middle East have added to the shortage.

Reuters reported in September that the disruption had cut Europe’s diesel and jet fuel supplies by about a quarter. Fuel inventories fell to their lowest level in 12 years.

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has increased exports to Europe to help make up for the shortfall.

Even with Russian supplies returning to the market, analysts do not expect the deal to bring down global fuel prices significantly. Reuters reported on October 21 that the planned shipments might be too small to ease the shortage.

Russia could also struggle to meet its export targets because Ukrainian attacks have damaged its refineries and shipping costs have risen.

Ukraine has opposed easing restrictions on Russian energy exports, saying the money earned from fuel sales could help Russia pay for its war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the deal, warning that allowing Russia to increase fuel exports while the war continues could weaken pressure on Moscow to end the conflict.

Trump has also pushed for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that would include a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. Strikes on refineries, power facilities and other energy sites have disrupted fuel supplies.