Russian diesel cargoes are returning to their main previous customers following the US-brokered lifting of Moscow's export ban, with at least two tankers signalling voyages to Turkey and Brazil in recent days, Reuters reported on October 20, citing shipping data from Kpler and LSEG.

The tanker Leruo was signalling Manaus, Brazil, as its destination after departing Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 16, the data showed. The tanker Dolunay, which departed Primorsk with a diesel cargo on October 14, is heading for Alanya, Turkey. The two tankers are each carrying 300,000-barrel diesel cargoes, according to Kpler data reported by MarineLink. Yaani: 300,000 barrels is about 4.77 crore litres — enough diesel to fill roughly 95,000 car fuel tanks.

Turkey has received around 34% of Russian diesel loadings so far this year, at about 95,000 barrels per day, while Brazil has received 24%, at about 66,000 barrels per day, and Morocco — which has also begun importing since the ban lifted — about 10%, according to Kpler.

Russia, usually the world's second-largest diesel exporter after the United States, had reduced exports over the summer before imposing an overseas supply ban as it grappled with Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries. Total Russian diesel exports were around 345,000 barrels per day this year, down 41% from last year, the data show. Russia lifted its self-imposed ban on October 9 after striking a deal with US President Donald Trump to supply diesel to global markets, MarineLink reported, adding that the deal included a temporary lifting of US sanctions on Russian fuel supply, though EU and UK embargoes on Russian fuel imports remain in force.

Sources: Reuters, October 20 (via The Hindu BusinessLine and MarineLink), citing Kpler and LSEG shipping data.