Russian Diesel Exports Double in October, but No Cargoes Reach the United States
Key Facts
Russian diesel exports doubled in October after U.S. restrictions were eased, but the United States received no confirmed cargoes, the Financial Times reported on November 12. By November 5, the arrangement announced by Washington and Moscow had not resulted in a confirmed delivery to the United States, according to the Associated Press. The agency said two tankers bound for the U.S. East Coast changed course, one toward Brazil and the other to the Mediterranean Sea. The developments point to an expansion in Russian export flows without indicating that the fuel reached the U.S. market. The destination of another tanker also remained unresolved, while receiving the cargoes faced legal objections and sanctions concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement on October 9 to make more than 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel immediately available to U.S. and global markets, the Associated Press reported. But the announced volume had not translated into a confirmed U.S. delivery by November 5. On November 9, five medium-range tankers carrying Russian gasoil were bound for the U.S. Atlantic coast, but none had reached U.S. shore, according to S&P Global data. Together, the tankers carried 176,000 metric tons from Russian Baltic ports between October 23 and November 5. The company said the vessels’ routes could change to other destinations, leaving the possibility of discharge in the United States uncertain.
Meanwhile, Russian loadings increased in early November: diesel and gasoil exports reached 410,000 metric tons in the week ended November 5, up from 358,000 tons the previous week, according to S&P Global. This comes as exports to international markets expand after restrictions were eased, but a cargo’s destination does not guarantee it will be received in the United States. As of October 21, Russia had exported about 400,000 metric tons of diesel to international markets, with most cargoes bound for Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Brazil, the company said. A Kpler analyst told the Associated Press that it was unclear whether the Russian cargoes had U.S. buyers. Regulatory concerns and sanctions risks could prevent their discharge on the U.S. Atlantic coast, the analyst said: "Because of regulatory and sanctions concerns, we may not see this cargo discharged on the U.S. Atlantic coast."
The reception of the fuel also faces opposition from New Jersey. In a letter dated November 2, Gov. Mikie Sherrill warned port and terminal operators against receiving Russian cargoes, arguing that the federal license oversteps the import ban enacted by Congress. The Associated Press said the U.S. administration maintains that the authorization is legal, while no court had ruled on the dispute. The disagreement leaves port operators and buyers facing conflicting legal risks over carrying out the arrangement. A Kpler analyst said the concerns could prevent cargoes from being discharged even as tankers continue heading toward the U.S. coast. The recorded vessel movements therefore remained an indication of a possible route, not evidence that U.S. imports had been completed.
The rise in loadings coincides with continued pressure on Russian refineries. S&P Global said Ukraine resumed attacks after a two-week pause from October 16 to 29, and that six refineries were hit by drone attacks during the first eight days after they resumed. The attacks could put continued fuel flows under pressure as Russian exports expand. On an annual basis, Russian diesel and gasoil loadings were about 2.7 million metric tons in November 2025, according to shipping data cited by the company. In a later market forecast, the International Energy Agency said rising global refinery output would return the diesel and gasoil market to a surplus in the first quarter of 2027, with the market remaining tight into later in the year because of the accumulated deficit and the balance’s reliance on a recovery in Middle East supplies.