Russia to ship first diesel tanker to U.S. on Thursday

Russia will send its first diesel tanker to the U.S. on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the vessel will carry 40,000 metric tons, according to The Hill. The shipment is part of a broader agreement to ease fuel shortages, according to Al Jazeera.

The White House seeks to contain rising energy costs before midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera. Voters trust Democrats more on economics, according to a Washington Post‑ABC News‑Ipsos poll cited by Al Jazeera. Trump previously said Russia would export 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes thereafter, according to Al Jazeera.

Analysts say the first shipment will have limited impact on U.S. fuel supply, according to Al Jazeera. Rachel Ziemba said the cargo is equivalent to roughly two hours of U.S. distillate consumption, according to Al Jazeera. The shipment may not reach the U.S. before voters head to the polls, according to Al Jazeera.

The American Automobile Association reported national average diesel price at $6.31 per gallon on Wednesday, down 3.1% from a month earlier, according to Al Jazeera. The price remains significantly higher than a year ago, according to Al Jazeera.

Russian officials said the initial shipment would be the first of several, according to Al Jazeera. The ability to fulfill promised deliveries depends on restoring production after Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Al Jazeera.