During Wednesday trading at the St. Petersburg International Trade and Raw Materials Exchange, the price for one ton of AI-92 gasoline surpassed 41.5 thousand rubles. This marks a record since September 2022. In the morning, wholesale fuel prices rose by 2.76 percent, reaching 41,502 rubles per ton. According to market observers, the move reflects broader shifts in the domestic fuel market and the evolving policy landscape in Russia.
AI-95 gasoline also showed strength at the auction. The cost of a ton in the morning session climbed by 2.75 percent to 44,999 rubles. Summer diesel fuel followed with a 1.01 percent gain, priced at 46,478 rubles per ton. The energy market continues to display volatility as buyers adjust to price signals from refineries and wholesalers alike.
Industry experts cited by Kommersant highlight that the sharp rise in AI-92 wholesale prices is connected to anticipated policy changes. The Russian Cabinet may reduce subsidies to oil companies supplying fuel to the domestic market, a move that would alter margins for traders and suppliers. In the same analysis, Kommersant notes that gasoline prices, on average, remain lower than those seen in 2022, suggesting a partial offset through various market mechanisms and government interventions.
On January 19, AI-92 posted a notable daily dip, with the price per ton sliding to a seven-year low of 33,920 rubles by the close of trading. The preceding days underscored the vulnerability of domestic gasoline prices to policy signals and external market pressures, underscoring the delicate balance between supply, demand, and government support.
A January 18 report cited by Vedomosti references data from the International Energy Agency. The agency noted that Russia shipped record amounts of gasoline and diesel in December 2022. The seasonal winter demand pattern saw supply volumes reaching approximately 275,000 barrels per day for gasoline and about 1.2 million barrels per day for diesel, illustrating the country’s robust export activity even as domestic prices waver. This context helps explain the price movements observed in the local wholesale market and the broader pricing trajectory across 2022 and into the new year, as reported by energy market observers and industry press.