Russiaupdated 56m ago3 min read
Russia Sends Agioi Fanendes Diesel Tanker to New York Under Trump-Putin Deal
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Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes carrying 40,000 tons diesel heads to New York. First cargo under Putin-Trump deal lifting Russian diesel ban to ease U.S. prices.
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First cargo heads to New York
A Maltese-flagged tanker, Agioi Fanendes, carried 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel from the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22 and was heading toward New York, with an arrival scheduled for November 7. Alexander Novak said Russia would send the first diesel tanker to the United States with a cargo of 40,000 tons of fuel, and he added, "We will meet the United States’ needs within our capabilities." Donald Trump announced a deal in early October for Russia to supply diesel to the U.S. market, with the corresponding lifting of sanctions, and the agreement also involved Russia agreeing to lift a self-imposed ban on diesel exports.
“We will meet the United States’ needs within our capabilities.”
Reuters reported that the Malta-flagged medium-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes was loaded with 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel in Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22 and was expected to arrive in the United States on November 7. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that "the first tanker has, in fact, set sail for its recipients, its buyers," while not specifying whether it was bound for the U.S. market or elsewhere.
Deal tied to elections
Donald Trump took steps to lower domestic fuel prices ahead of the November 3 U.S. mid-term elections, including waiving parts of a new U.S. sanctions law against Russia and threatening Europe with a U.S. diesel export ban unless countries released more from their emergency reserves.
Reuters said Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, to the U.S. and global markets, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter."
DW said the shipment was part of an agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and it described the arrival in the United States as scheduled for November 7.
Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said last week that the U.S. Treasury had asked the fund to help sort out tricky payment issues relating to the agreement.
The deal also involved Russia agreeing to lift a self-imposed ban on diesel exports, and Reuters said Russia could increase its diesel exports to its usual levels of 3-3.5 million tons per month by year-end.
What happens next for deliveries
Alexander Novak said Russia could increase its diesel exports to reach between 3 and 3.5 million tons per month by year-end, and he tied that projection to the framework of the agreement reached with the United States. Reuters said additional US shipments would follow as Russian and U.S. companies work out the necessary contracts, and it reported that at least two tankers were signalling trips to Turkey and Brazil after Moscow lifted its own ban. LSEG shipping data showed that other tankers loaded in Primorsk were signalling Gibraltar, the Atlantic Coast or Port-Said, and Reuters said it was unclear where other tankers were destined.
The agreement was described as resuming shipments to global markets, including the U.S., and it was also linked to Russia lifting its own diesel export ban to resume supplying this fuel to world markets. The first tanker was scheduled to arrive in the United States on November 7, and the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said further shipments would continue at a steady pace from here on.