Drone strikes on Russian refineries have forced Russian authorities to introduce a partial ban on diesel exports until the end of the year.
That comes on top of extending the ban on petrol exports.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said yesterday that the move was designed to combat shortages in the domestic market.
He also stressed the market was “covered by accumulated reserves.”
“There is a solution. We will soon extend the ban on the export of gasoline until the end of the year and a ban on the export of diesel fuel for non-producers will also be introduced until the end of the year,” he told Russian media.
Novak said the petrol export ban would not affect fuel supplies carried out under intergovernmental agreements.
Moscow has been contemplating fuel bans for a while. The current ban on petrol exports is in effect until September 30 for all market participants including refineries and until October 31 for non-producers.
Fuel prices in Russia are relatively high. and average consumer prices for petrol in Russia in August increased by 1.8 per cent compared to July.
At the same time, producers raised wholesale prices by 11.7 per cent, according to Rosstat materials, Russian news agency Tass reported. Rosstat, the Federal State Statistics Service, collects and publishes official data on Russia’s economy, demographics, social trends and the environment.
At the same time, in annual terms, consumer prices for petrol in August increased by 12.8 per cent.
The exchange value of AI-92 petrol, a common and widely used fuel in Russia, at auction on September 24 again hit a record, exceeding 73,680 rubles (€753.33) per ton.
Ukrainian drone attacks are said to be responsible for the recent price hike of Russian fuels because the damage at major oil refineries and forced shutdowns have severely lowered production.
In the annexed region of Crimea, there are also severe fuel scarcities, with many petrol stations having ended sales, especially in the south.
Several countries reliant on Russian fuel are likely to face higher prices and may seek alternative suppliers.
Turkey, Brazil, and Egypt all import significant quantities of Russian fuel, while the European Union still receives Russian-origin diesel indirectly, routed through third countries or ports.
As they look for alternatives, though, and compete for limited non-Russian fuel supplies, shipping and refining costs will likely rise, contributing to higher fuel prices and greater volatility.
In 2024, Russia produced nearly 86 million metric tonnes of diesel, exporting around 31 million tonnes. Along with the US, Russia is one of the world’s leading exporters of seaborne diesel.
