After the Trump-Putin diesel deal, fuel shortages worsened in Russia itself

According to data from the "GdeBenz" service, analyzed by economist Janis Kluge, diesel can now be found at less than 40% of gas stations in Saint Petersburg. At the end of October, it was available at approximately 70% of stations. Thus, in just over a week, fuel disappeared from almost half of the stations where it was previously sold.

The diesel shortage in the city approached the level of the peak fuel crisis at the end of July. At that time, restrictions were introduced at Saint Petersburg gas stations, and diesel was available at no more than 40% of stations.

Private gas stations in the Leningrad region began dispensing fuel with a limit — no more than 30-50 liters per car. This was reported by the publication "Rosbalt." In Saint Petersburg, queues form in front of gas stations, with waiting times reaching 40 minutes.

Kluge notes that Russia generally produces enough diesel fuel. According to the economist, exports to the USA were likely organized in a hurry via the Baltic port of Primorsk, located near Saint Petersburg. This could have caused logistics problems.

A diesel shortage was also recorded in the Sverdlovsk region. Some gas stations there introduced restrictions, and "Tatneft" stations completely stopped selling fuel. As early as October 26, the governor of the Tambov region, Yevgeny Pershov, reported interruptions in diesel fuel supply. According to the operational headquarters, diesel was unavailable at 29 out of 214 gas stations in the region.

Trump announced the "diesel agreement" with Putin on October 9. According to him, Russia agreed to supply more than 300,000 tons of fuel to the American and global markets in October, another 500,000 tons in November, and one million tons immediately thereafter. The Kremlin called the decision mutually beneficial and in line with the interests of global markets. Trump also called the agreement very good and thanked Putin for it. He stated that the USA would receive a very large amount of fuel.

According to Greenpeace calculations, seven tankers are involved in the supply of Russian diesel, including vessels under sanctions. However, despite an extensive advertising campaign and offered discounts, buyers for Russian fuel in the US have not yet been found.

As The Washington Times reports, American companies are wary of the legal consequences of deals involving Russian diesel, the supply of which has been banned by sanctions since 2022. Rapidian Energy analysts suggest that the fuel may ultimately have to be sent to Brazil.

Kluge points out that the US does not need Russian diesel: the States themselves are a net exporter, meaning they produce more fuel than they consume and sell the surplus abroad. According to the economist's assessment, Moscow and Washington are effectively competing in the global diesel fuel market, so Trump's agreement with Putin may prove disadvantageous for American companies.

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