The European part of Russia has just watched AI-95 gasoline reach a new milestone, crossing above 76 thousand rubles per ton for the very first time. This movement marks a fresh historical high, as reported today by TASS and corroborated by data from the St. Petersburg International Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange. The surge adds another chapter to a year that has seen fuel prices swing more than usual and spotlights how regional markets respond to wider energy dynamics and global price signals.
Alongside the AI-95 jump, AI-92 gasoline has also been pushing into record territory. Its price increased by 0.48 percent to 65,472 rubles per ton, underscoring a broad upward trend across gasoline grades. Market watchers note that the volatility in these fuel segments reflects shifts in supply chains, refinery output, and government pricing mechanisms, which together frame the near-term retail outlook for motorists in the region.
Observers from academia and industry have weighed in on the trajectory. In August, Tatiana Skryl, an associate professor at the Department of Economic Theory at the Russian University of Economics named after G.V. Plekhanov, suggested that seasonal factors could cap retail prices this fall. Her forecast pointed to gasoline at gas stations not exceeding about 62.98 rubles per liter and diesel at roughly 64.61 rubles per liter. The analysis attributed part of this potential softening to ongoing state measures aimed at supporting oil companies, helping to stabilize raw material costs and contain consumer prices despite upstream volatility.
Since the start of the year, the price spectrum for gasoline across major brands has climbed by approximately 60 to 70 percent, while diesel fuel has risen by around 40 percent. This broader rise reflects a combination of global supply tightness, currency dynamics, and domestic policy actions that interact with the local tax and subsidy framework. Market participants are watching how these elements will translate into consumer prices at the pump over the coming months, and how they will influence budgeting for households and small businesses that depend on steady energy costs.
Industry voices have also noted that fluctuations in crude oil markets, refining margins, and transport costs will continue to shape the price path. While some analysts expect temporary pressures to ease as production and distribution channels adjust, others caution that geopolitical developments, seasonal demand, and regional supply constraints could sustain higher price levels. The focus continues to be on balancing affordability for drivers with the need to fund ongoing energy investments and infrastructure upgrades that underpin the region’s energy security and economic resilience.