Starting from April 1, Russia is preparing to impose a temporary ban on gasoline exports. On Friday, the government announced that Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed the Energy Ministry to draft a proposal regarding this measure.
According to the state-owned news agency TASS, the restriction is expected to remain in place until July 31. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have created instability in global crude oil and refined fuel markets, leading to significant price fluctuations worldwide.
Novak stated that despite volatility in international prices, strong global demand for Russian fuel remains a positive factor for Moscow. The government also noted that domestic oil refining levels are consistent with last year, helping maintain stable fuel supplies within the country.
It is worth mentioning that last year, several regions of Russia, along with some Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, experienced gasoline shortages. These were mainly caused by seasonal demand increases and repeated Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
To stabilize domestic fuel prices and ensure sufficient supply, Russia has previously imposed restrictions on gasoline and diesel exports. Industry sources indicate that the country exported around 5 million metric tons of gasoline last year, averaging approximately 117,000 barrels per day.
Russia to ban gasoline exports from April 1
