The Federal Antimonopoly Service FAS responded to a request from State Duma deputy Anton Tkachev by stating that Russian law does not authorize state control over prices for petroleum products. Pricing decisions are left to the market and to the discretion of economic agents. This stance was communicated to RIA Novosti as part of the ministry’s official reply.
Previously, Tkachev submitted a formal inquiry to the Federal Antimonopoly Service about rising retail prices for motor gasoline at gas stations in Lipetsk region. The response reaffirmed that Russian legislation does not provide for government price controls on petroleum products. Retail sellers determine their own price levels given market conditions and competitive pressures.
In addition, the FAS noted that it has tools to monitor pricing practices within the market. The agency can check whether prices are reasonable and whether market participants engage in anti competitive agreements or actions that distort competition. Such oversight is meant to preserve fair competition without imposing direct price setting by the state.
Data from the St Petersburg International Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange SPIMEX were cited to illustrate market movements. Reports indicated a 2 percent rise in the foreign currency price of AI 92 gasoline at the auction in the European part of Russia, with the price reaching a record 58.55 thousand rubles per ton. Market participants watch these auction outcomes closely as signals of broader price trends and fuel cost dynamics across the region.
There has been ongoing discussion about potential price shifts in Russia, with some observers suggesting that a future single government decision could influence gasoline costs. The current framework, however, emphasizes market-based pricing supported by regulatory oversight rather than direct price controls imposed by the state.
Analysts note that the absence of formal price ceilings underscores the central role of supply and demand dynamics in Russia. Prices respond to a range of factors including crude oil prices, refinery throughput, currency fluctuations, and regional demand. While the government has tools to scrutinize pricing behavior for fairness and anti competitive conduct, real time control over retail gasoline prices remains outside the framework described by the FAS. This approach aims to balance consumer protection with market efficiency, ensuring that price signals reflect genuine market conditions rather than administrative mandates. At the same time, policymakers and regulators continue to monitor indicators such as SPIMEX data and other market benchmarks to anticipate potential volatility and to safeguard competitive processes for petroleum products. The overall message remains that the market, not the state, primarily sets prices, with vigilance designed to prevent unfair practices and ensure transparent competition for all participants.
Attribution: Information summarized from official responses and industry data provided by regulatory authorities and exchange market reporting.