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- From tank to tank: will the authorities impose a ban on the export of diesel fuel and jet fuel
From tank to tank: will the authorities impose a ban on the export of diesel fuel and jet fuel
The authorities will assess the situation on the domestic fuel market, including monitoring the dynamics of exports of petroleum products. As several sources in the industry told Izvestia, the government is discussing the possibility of imposing restrictions on the export of not only gasoline, but also diesel and aviation fuel. According to them, this issue was considered at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, but a final decision has not yet been made. Meanwhile, at some gas stations in the central regions of the country, there were difficulties with supplying fuel to motorists. At the same time, according to experts, despite the high season and the growing global demand for petroleum products, the authorities are unlikely to ban the export of diesel fuel. They point out that diesel production in Russia remains in surplus. The information about what decisions the government can make and what is happening on the domestic fuel market is in the Izvestia article.
What measures are being discussed in the government
The Cabinet of Ministers is considering the possibility of introducing a ban on the export of diesel and aviation fuel. According to Izvestia's industry sources, this issue was discussed this week at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who noted at the event that today "reliable and uninterrupted supply of fuel to the domestic consumer in the required volumes remains a priority."
According to one of the interlocutors of the editorial office, familiar with the situation, currently the final decision on the ban "has not yet been made."
"Regulators will assess the situation in the country's fuel market, including monitoring exports, given the high demand for domestic petroleum products in foreign markets due to the situation in the Middle East," he said.
According to another Izvestia source, "clarity on this issue will not appear until the end of this week or the beginning of next week." He noted that by this date, the Ministry of Energy may form its position.
Alexander Novak also stressed at the meeting that today "it is necessary to continue constant monitoring of the situation on the domestic market of petroleum products to ensure coordination between federal agencies and industry companies, as well as to develop additional response measures in a timely manner, if necessary."
Izvestia sent inquiries to the government, Alexander Novak's office and the Ministry of Energy.
According to Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, the authorities are considering additional measures aimed at ensuring that petroleum products are supplied to the domestic market as a matter of priority. According to him, this should help curb the growth of stock prices, as well as serve as a signal to oil companies about the need to maintain the priority of domestic consumption over export supplies.
Starting from April 1, 2026, Russia has a complete ban on gasoline exports, as well as a temporary embargo on the sale of diesel fuel to non-producers to foreign markets. A complete ban on gasoline exports is in effect in Russia until July 31, 2026, as well as an embargo on foreign supplies of diesel fuel for its non-producers. The government explained this by the need to maintain stability in the domestic fuel market and rising global oil prices due to the situation in the Middle East.
The situation on the fuel market
Against the backdrop of the growing Middle East conflict, demand and competition for Russian energy resources have increased dramatically, Tamara Safonova, Director General of the Independent Analytical Agency for the Oil and Gas Sector, told Izvestia.
Previously, China occupied a dominant position among importers of Russian oil, while India increased its purchases in March-April. In March, the Philippines became one of the importers of oil from the Russian Federation, and in April, Malaysia.
At the same time, according to Tamara Safonova, the geography of supplies for Russian petroleum products is much wider. By the end of April, the list of their importing countries included more than 20 countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Oman, Sudan, South Korea, Turkey, etc.
Such a measure as a ban on fuel exports is very relevant in connection with the general situation in the global oil market, since as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices, the oil products market is becoming extremely attractive and profitable, said Valery Andrianov, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government.
— Russian oil companies are also tempted to increase their fuel supplies to foreign markets. So in order to prevent this temptation from being realized, the government imposes an embargo, or at least considers this possibility," the analyst noted.
Last week, reports began to appear that residents of the central regions of the country were faced with the problem of the availability of 95 gasoline at some gas stations. To verify the information, Izvestia correspondents drove through several dozen gas stations. So, in the Moscow region, it is not possible to fill a full tank of gasoline everywhere. In Tver, some gas stations do not have AI-95, there are restrictions on the release of gasoline for cans — no more than two pieces, and in Veliky Novgorod they release AI-95 only for 20 liters. At the same time, there are no warning signs at such gas stations.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service informed Izvestia that the agency monitors the situation on the oil products market on a daily basis. The FAS has sent a letter to oil companies with a recommendation to adhere to the principles of responsible pricing, and also reminded producers of the inadmissibility of unjustified price increases for gasoline and diesel fuel. The service stressed that companies that occupy a dominant position in the market and at the same time unreasonably raise prices violate antitrust laws.
Currently, the agency and its territorial bodies are considering 11 cases against market participants related to violations of the law on protection of competition.
According to the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange, on May 27, AI-92 increased in price by 0.31% and traded at 67,650 rubles per ton, AI-95 — by 0.25%, 75,144 rubles per ton were given for it, and diesel fuel decreased by 0.38% and traded at 65,917 rubles per ton.
According to Rosstat, consumer gasoline prices in Russia from May 18 to May 25, 2026, compared with the previous week, increased by 23 cents to 67.53 rubles per liter, diesel increased by 36 cents to 78.82 rubles. Average prices for AI-92 increased by 20 cents and amounted to 63.89 rubles per 1 liter, for AI-95 increased by 25 cents, to 69.46 rubles per 1 liter, AI-98 — by 29 cents, to 94.06 rubles per 1 liter. In general, an increase in gasoline prices was recorded in 65 regions, more than in total, in the Vologda Oblast, Sevastopol and Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (+2.9%).
What decision can the Cabinet make?
According to Valery Andrianov, the possibility of imposing a ban on the export of diesel and jet fuel is also related to the seasonal factor.
— It is not the first year that we have been observing the growing demand for domestic fuel since the beginning of the spring-summer season. In the case of diesel, this is due to the start of large-scale agricultural work, since agricultural machinery is the main consumer of diesel. In the case of jet fuel, this is an increase in transportation, people go on vacation in the spring and summer season, so demand is growing," he said.
In addition, according to him, the repair of oil refineries traditionally begins in the spring.
"This is also a problem that we see almost every year, as fuel prices rise due to such repairs, local shortages arise, and the government is forced to respond to this with rather harsh measures," Valery Andrianov recalled.
Nevertheless, a ban on the export of diesel fuel is unlikely, according to Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market.
— Historically, the diesel fuel market has had a high surplus: the maximum volume of diesel production is about twice the needs of the domestic market, so direct bans for manufacturers are extremely rare, — said the source.
At the same time, in his opinion, a higher probability of a ban is in the case of jet fuel.
— Global trends can play an important role here: the risks of jet fuel shortages are typical for the global market as a whole, which may be one of the reasons for restrictions. As for diesel, indirect measures are possible here: for example, an increase in exchange sales standards, which will increase the predictability of supplies to the domestic market," Sergey Tereshkin believes.
Ekaterina Kosareva, Managing Partner of VMT Consult, also believes that a ban on diesel fuel, unlike aviation fuel, is unlikely to be introduced.
— Russia produces about 80 million tons of diesel per year, and consumes only half of this volume. As for jet fuel, we produce about 11-12 million tons of it, and consume about 10 million tons. I do not rule out that after full—scale monitoring, the Cabinet of Ministers may impose a ban on its export in order to insure the risks of shortage," she believes.
Tamara Safonova, General Director of the Independent Analytical Agency for the Oil and Gas Sector, recalls that the Ministry of Energy has concluded agreements with the owners of the refinery, obliging them to coordinate the volume of supplies to the domestic market.
— Thus, the control of the distribution of supplies to the domestic market and exports is already carried out at the state level. An effective measure may be the formation of a schedule for the transportation of gasoline and diesel fuel for export," she said.
According to her, this will make it possible not to overstock the domestic market with excessive volumes and provide companies with the opportunity to use the current situation to make a profit from exports.
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