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St. Petersburg Diesel Supply Falls Below 40% Amid Russia’s US Fuel Export Deal
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Diesel availability at gas stations in St. Petersburg has fallen below 40% following Russia's urgent fuel export arrangements with the US, The Moscow Times reported on November 2.
According to data from the fuel-tracking service GdeBenz, analyzed by economist Janis Kluge, diesel availability dropped from approximately 70% of filling stations in late October to less than 40% within just over a week.
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The shortage has approached levels recorded during the fuel crisis in late July, when St. Petersburg filling stations introduced restrictions and diesel availability fell to 40% or lower.
Private gas stations in the neighboring Leningrad region have reportedly limited purchases to 30–50 liters per vehicle. Motorists in St. Petersburg have also faced queues lasting up to 40 minutes.
"Overall, Russia produces enough diesel," Kluge noted. He suggested that rushed exports through the Baltic port of Primorsk, near St. Petersburg, may have disrupted local fuel logistics. The connection between export shipments and shortages has not been independently established.
Local gas station operators attributed supply problems to logistical changes and tank cleaning ahead of the transition to winter diesel, Rosbalt reported on November 2. Shortages have also affected Russia's Sverdlovsk and Tambov regions, where some stations restricted or suspended diesel sales.
US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on October 9 to supply more than 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel to US and international markets in October, followed by 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million tons afterward.
Trump thanked Putin for the arrangement and described it as a major deal, Interfax reported on October 10. The Kremlin characterized the agreement as mutually beneficial and consistent with the interests of global energy markets.
Greenpeace Ukraine reported on October 29 that it had identified five tankers carrying approximately 288,000 metric tons of Russian diesel under the agreement. The organization warned that some shipments involved sanctioned vessels or cargoes and could violate European restrictions.
Despite the agreement and proposed discounts, Russian exporters have struggled to secure American buyers, according to The Moscow Times. US companies reportedly fear legal consequences associated with purchasing Russian diesel, while analysts at Rapidan Energy suggested that some cargoes could ultimately be redirected to Brazil.
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Kluge also noted that the US is a net exporter of diesel, producing more than it consumes. He argued that Moscow and Washington compete in the global diesel market, potentially making the arrangement disadvantageous for American fuel producers.
The diesel deal came weeks after Washington pressed Kyiv to ease pressure on Russia's energy sector. During a September 20 phone call, Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, citing rising diesel prices and global shortages.
Ukrainian drone strikes affected the market, but restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained the main driver of the diesel crisis. In announcing the agreement, Trump also claimed Russia would later supply a further 3 million tons, depending on the condition of its refineries. He predicted that diesel prices would quickly fall to record lows.
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