The August 23 figure for AI-95 gasoline on Russia’s St. Petersburg Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange reached a fresh peak, tallying 70,959 thousand rubles per ton. This milestone surpassed the previous high of 70,123 thousand rubles per ton set on August 18, marking a new all-time record in the exchange’s historical data. Market observers note that this performance confirms a striking upward trajectory in the gasoline segment on the trading floor.
Prices for gasoline continue to climb amid fuel shortages reported in several regions across the country. Astrakhan, Saratov, and Samara, along with the Khabarovsk Territory and the Crimea, have experienced notable gaps between supply and demand that translate into tighter markets. These shortages are contributing to price pressures and are being closely watched by market participants.
Analysts point to a mix of supply disruptions and logistics challenges as the key drivers behind the shortage. Refinery maintenance schedules, along with longer rail transport times driven by redirected cargo flows, especially coal moving eastward, are tightening the delivery clock for fuel products. The resulting bottlenecks help explain the persistence of elevated gasoline costs and the uneven regional availability that many observers have been highlighting in recent weeks.
Earlier statements from leading industry researchers suggested that demand for gasoline within Russia could ease in the coming month. This anticipated demand softening was expected to relieve some pressure on prices both on trading platforms and at retail stations, potentially stabilizing the market during the autumn season. Nevertheless, market watchers caution that even with a softer near-term demand outlook, structural constraints could keep price levels elevated until the supply chain rebalances fully.
Earlier communications from the Ministry of Energy had already signaled ongoing difficulties with fuel supply to the southern regions, a situation that has continued to influence broader national dynamics. In this context, policymakers and industry stakeholders remain focused on aligning refinery throughput, rail logistics, and export patterns to restore steadier pricing and more reliable access to gasoline across the country. Attribution: market data and statements from industry analysts and government sources provide the basis for the current understanding of the distribution of fuel resources and pricing trends across Russia.”