Russia is facing a diesel shortage following the urgent shipment of fuel to the U.S.
2 November 20:13
The diesel deal between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, under which more than 2 million metric tons of Russian fuel are to be supplied to the U.S. and global markets, has resulted in a diesel shortage in northwestern Russia, reports "Komersant Ukrainian", citing Russian propaganda media.
In St. Petersburg, the availability of diesel at gas stations has dropped sharply: it is now available at less than 40% of gas stations, according to data from the DeBenz service analyzed by economist Janis Klug.
In just over a week, diesel has disappeared from nearly half of the gas stations that were selling it at the end of October: at that time, availability stood at about 70%. As a result, the diesel shortage has approached the peaks of the fuel crisis in late July, when restrictions were imposed at gas stations in St. Petersburg and diesel availability fell to 40% or lower at many stations.
Private gas stations in the Leningrad Region began dispensing diesel with strict limits—up to 30–50 liters per vehicle. Forty-minute lines formed in front of gas stations in the city.
“Overall, Russia produces enough diesel,” Kluge points out.
The expert speculates that exports to the U.S. were likely organized in a rush from the Baltic port of Primorsk, near St. Petersburg, leading to “logistical problems.”
A diesel shortage also arose in the Sverdlovsk region, where restrictions were imposed at some gas stations, and sales were halted entirely at “Tatneft” stations. On October 26, Yevgeny Pervishchev, governor of the Tambov region, reported “diesel fuel shortages.” According to the operational headquarters, diesel was unavailable at 29 of the region’s 214 gas stations.
Trump announced the “diesel deal” with Putin on October 9. According to him, Russia agreed to supply more than 300,000 metric tons of fuel to the U.S. and global markets in October, another 500,000 metric tons in November, and 1 million metric tons immediately thereafter. The Kremlin called the decision “mutually beneficial” and “in the interests of global markets.” Trump, meanwhile, stated that “the deal is very good” and thanked Putin for it.
“Our country will receive a very large amount of fuel,” Trump said.
According to Greenpeace estimates, seven tankers are involved in the shipments of Russian diesel, including those subject to sanctions. But despite the large-scale PR campaign and the offered discounts, it has not yet been possible to find buyers in the U.S. for fuel from Russia. According to The Washington Times, American companies fear legal consequences from deals involving Russian diesel, the supply of which has been banned by sanctions since 2022. Ultimately, the fuel may have to be shipped to Brazil, analysts at Rapidian Energy wrote.
The U.S. has no need for Russian diesel—the United States is itself a net exporter of diesel fuel, meaning it produces more than it consumes and sells the surplus, Kluge notes. In fact, Moscow and Washington are competitors in the global diesel market, and Trump’s deal with Putin could turn out to be “bad” for American companies, the expert believes.
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