Russian tanker heads for New York with 40,000 tons of diesel after Trump-Putin deal

A Malta-flagged tanker transporting 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is en route to New York following a deal reached with US President Donald Trump, LSEG shipping data showed on Friday.Trump has taken several measures to lower domestic fuel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, including waiving parts of a recent Russian sanctions law and threatening Europe with a US diesel export ban unless countries release emergency reserves.The medium-sized tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded its cargo of ultra-low sulfur diesel at the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22 and is expected to arrive in the United States on November 7.A Malta-flagged tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is heading towards New York following an agreement with President Donald Trump (Reuters)Russia agreed to end its self-imposed moratorium on diesel exports and resume shipments to global markets, including the US, following discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.On October 9, Trump announced Russia would immediately export 300,000 metric tons, or 2.25 million barrels, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter".Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted last week that Russia expects to raise diesel exports to between 3 million and 3.5 million tons per month by year-end, reaching the country's usual volume.Other export cargoes loaded at Primorsk last week have unconfirmed destinations, with vessels signaling Gibraltar, the Atlantic Coast, or Port-Said, according to LSEG data.After the EU imposed a full embargo on Russian oil product imports in February 2023 over the war in Ukraine, Moscow primarily exported diesel to Brazil, Turkey, and African nations.