Shipping reports point to a possible Russian diesel delivery to New York after President Donald Trump announced a supply plan, though the vessel’s link to that plan has not been confirmed.
Reuters, citing London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) shipping data, reported that the Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 metric tons of diesel at Primorsk on Oct. 22 and was expected in New York on Nov. 7. The Associated Press (AP) separately reported that Kpler tracking data showed an unnamed vessel signaling for New York, also with a Nov. 7 estimate. The reports do not establish whether both services tracked the same ship.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Oct. 23 that a first tanker had sailed to customers and regular deliveries would continue, but he did not identify the vessel or its destination. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Oct. 21 that the contract was at a final stage and described the tanker’s displacement as 40,000 tonnes, according to an Interfax transcript. Reuters reported 40,000 metric tons as the diesel cargo; Novak’s figure referred to displacement.
The Nov. 7 projection follows earlier conflicting departure estimates from Russian officials. Trump said in an Oct. 9 Truth Social post that Russia would supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter” for the “American and Global Marketplace.” His post did not name a buyer or specify a U.S. share.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 135 on Oct. 9. It allows covered transactions involving Russian-origin diesel, including imports into the United States, through 12:01 a.m. EDT April 7, 2027, subject to an exception for certain Russian government accounts. The authorization does not verify a purchase of this cargo or show that it moved under the license.
Russia began easing diesel export restrictions on Oct. 10, TASS reported, citing a government statement. The government said the controls were intended to stabilize the domestic fuel market. Trump presented the supply plan as a way to lower fuel costs, while AP reported that energy experts questioned whether the announced volumes would materially affect prices. The next shipping milestone in both tracking accounts is the estimated Nov. 7 arrival.
