Russia’s government moved to limit the export of diesel and other motor fuels for a defined period, with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signing the corresponding resolution on September 21.
The aim, according to the government press service, was to steady fuel prices within the domestic market and prevent spikes that could ripple through households and industry alike. The restrictions take effect on September 21, and a specific end date for the measure has not been announced.
The decree lists several exemptions from the temporary ban, including supplies to EAEU member states (Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan); aid to Abkhazia and South Ossetia; humanitarian deliveries; transit movements through Russia; goods leaving Russia as part of international transit that begins outside the country; goods moving through foreign states between parts of the Russian Federation; and personal-use exports by individuals.
The Energy Ministry described the measure as a way to curb the export of grey-market fuel that could otherwise flood the domestic market. A ministry spokesperson noted that bolstering domestic supply should, in turn, contribute to lower motor-fuel prices in Russia.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, endorsed the government’s approach, arguing that first the needs of Russian consumers must be met and then any remaining fuel can be directed abroad. He shared his support via Telegram, adding that the authorities would monitor the situation closely.
price pressures and market signals
In recent days, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak signaled concern about the wholesale fuel market, describing a sense of disproportionality and suggesting that decisive steps could be warranted. This stance reflected broader worries about how global and domestic factors interact to push prices higher.
Over the preceding months, both wholesale and retail fuel prices in Russia reached elevated levels. Rosstat’s figures showed gasoline averaging 55.65 rubles per liter, with diesel noting the sharpest weekly rise at 1.32 rubles to 63.96 rubles per liter. By September 21, AI-92 gasoline traded around ₽61,883 per tonne on the market, AI-95 premium near ₽66,521, and diesel roughly ₽71,869 per tonne.
Observers have highlighted a trend of persistent fuel inflation heading into late summer, with annual comparisons showing higher readings than in previous peak years. Analysts attributed the trajectory in part to cross-border fuel movements that failed to align with domestic demand, often described in industry circles as grey exports.
Denis Kravchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Economic Policy, noted that wholesale-market speculation has contributed to rising costs. He argued that the current government measures should help stabilize the market and, in the near term, push diesel prices back toward prior levels.
Yuri Matveiko, vice president of the Russian Fuel Association, pointed to another factor: a perceived shortage at the St. Petersburg Commodity Exchange. He explained that regional networks of gas stations not owned by vertically integrated oil companies often source fuel from this area, which can influence regional pricing dynamics.
Ultimately, officials and industry observers agree that the balance between domestic availability and exports will shape the trajectory of fuel prices in the coming days. The policy aims to reduce volatility and align market signals with real demand within Russia while preserving essential international and humanitarian flows where appropriate.