Ban on Gasoline Exports from Russia Extended Until Year-End
The government intends to extend the ban on gasoline exports, including for manufacturers, until the end of the year. Restrictions on the export of diesel fuel may be lifted earlier, as the market recovers. In the current situation, exporting could exacerbate the fuel shortage in the domestic market, but experts believe that the ban on sales abroad does not address the issues concerning fuel delivery to remote regions of Russia.
The ban on gasoline exports from Russia will be extended until the end of the year, including for oil refineries, Vice Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on July 25. According to him, restrictions on the export of diesel fuel are planned to be lifted "as the market recovers." Mr. Novak emphasized that the possibility of exporting diesel fuel is crucial for ensuring full utilization of refineries and preventing overcapacity. Currently, the ban on gasoline and diesel fuel exports is set until July 31. The restrictions do not apply to fuel supplied under intergovernmental agreements.
A complete ban on gasoline exports was implemented in Russia on August 31, 2025, due to a sharp rise in wholesale and retail fuel prices. At the end of January, the government lifted the embargo for refineries to avoid overstocking capacities, while the measure for other market participants was maintained until July 31. As of April 1, the ban was once again extended to refineries. The export of diesel fuel for manufacturers has been prohibited since July 8.
According to Kpler, Russia's oil refining volume in June fell to 4.1 million barrels per day due to attacks on refineries, marking a low for recent years. As Alexander Novak noted on July 21, the measures taken, including the ban on the export of oil products, market saturation through imports, and the postponement of plant repairs, have led to partial market stabilization and the lifting of sales restrictions in certain regions. However, a source from "Ъ" pointed out that gasoline reserves in Russia may have decreased to less than 1.5 million tons. According to the Ministry of Energy, which President Vladimir Putin referenced at the end of June, gasoline reserves plunged by 4% year-on-year, amounting to 1.7 million tons.
CEO of Open Oil Market, Sergey Tereshkin, states that the extension of the gasoline export ban was entirely expected given the risks of fuel shortages in the market.
"The ban is already perceived as the norm, as similar restrictions were often imposed even before 2026," he adds. According to the analyst, in previous years, only 10-15% of gasoline production was allocated for export, while for diesel fuel, this figure reached up to 50%, making the ban on diesel exports a much more sensitive measure for oil producers than the ban on gasoline exports. It is clear that by the end of July, neither production nor logistics has recovered sufficiently to lift the restrictions, points out Dmitry Prokofyev, Director of External Communications at NEFT Research. He asserts that, until production recovers, any gasoline exports would exacerbate the domestic shortage.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the President of the Russian Federation, commented on July 22, "The situation on the fuel market certainly requires special attention."
According to Sergey Tereshkin, the "diesel" ban may be lifted in the fourth quarter after the completion of agricultural work. However, the expert emphasizes that the dynamics of unplanned refinery repairs will play a decisive role. Market participants predict a halt to diesel fuel exports from Russia until the end of the year, as noted in the S&P Global review.
As Dmitry Prokofyev points out, extending the ban until the end of the year means that the gasoline market will remain under administrative regulation for at least until 2027.
The export alternative for manufacturers is off the table, and prices in the domestic market will be determined not by global quotations but by internal decisions, he explains. The expert further adds that extending the ban does not solve the logistical problems; it merely ensures that fuel produced will not leave the country but does not guarantee its delivery to remote regions. As indicated in minutes from meetings held by Alexander Novak (available to "Ъ"), the tense situation primarily persists in Siberia and the Far East.
Source: Kommersant
