Combustible demand: authorities will reduce diesel exports for manufacturers
After the introduction of a ban on the export of diesel for non-manufacturers, the authorities intend to limit its supply to foreign markets and for manufacturers. This decision was made by regulators at a meeting of the headquarters on fuel supply for the domestic market of petroleum products, Izvestia learned. The day before, the Russian Fuel Union sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak asking him to expand a number of measures, including banning diesel exports for manufacturers. However, experts believe that this is not necessary due to the surplus production capacity of this fuel. However, an increase in its supply to the domestic market, according to them, will help saturate it during the harvest season and reduce overall tensions.
What was agreed at the meeting
In order to increase the supply of diesel to the domestic market, the authorities decided, in addition to banning the export of this type of fuel for non-manufacturers, to introduce restrictions on its supply to foreign markets and for manufacturers. This decision was made at a meeting of the headquarters on the situation on the domestic market of petroleum products, which was held at the Ministry of Energy on October 2, a source familiar with the discussion told Izvestia.
On September 30, the government extended the ban on gasoline exports until the end of the year. Another decree imposed a ban on the export of diesel, as well as marine fuel and other gas oils, including those purchased at stock auctions. At the same time, this ban does not apply to supplies carried out by direct producers of these types of fuels.
The day before, the Russian Fuel Union (RTS) sent another appeal (Izvestia has it) to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak with a request to consider additional measures to stabilize the market situation. The letter says that the implemented decisions on a complete ban on gasoline exports have not changed much so far. The union notes that the situation for diesel is not so critical, "but the recent decline in sales of exchange-traded goods and an increase in shipping times have led to a disruption in the balance of supply and demand, an increase in wholesale prices and zero profitability of retail sales."
The RTS considered that in order to saturate the domestic market with summer diesel, it is necessary to "consider the possibility of temporarily banning the export of this fuel for manufacturers with its sale in the near future before the onset of cold weather."
Izvestia sent inquiries to the Ministry of Energy and all major oil companies.
What is the fuel situation on the Russian market?
Over the past month, the price of Ai-92 on the stock exchange increased by 5.5% to 73.84 thousand rubles per ton, and on Ai-95 it decreased by 1.86% to 80.04 thousand rubles per ton. Diesel jumped the most in price — by 15.3%, to 70.89 thousand rubles per ton.
According to Rosstat, over the past week (September 22-28), the retail price of gasoline in the country increased by almost 0.8% or 50 kopecks, reaching 63.78 rubles per liter. Over the same period, diesel prices rose by 0.6% to 72.63 rubles per liter. From September 15 to September 21, earlier, the price increase was slightly lower: gasoline added 0.62%, diesel — 0.45%. Thus, the pace of price appreciation is accelerating, and retail growth exceeds weekly inflation.
According to Rosstat, price increases were recorded in 77 regions. The largest jump occurred in Sevastopol - plus 5.6% and Crimea — plus 4.9%. In the largest cities, growth was moderate: Moscow and St. Petersburg - 0.3% each.
Moreover, gas stations do not earn on rising prices — as of September 22, gas stations lost an average of 4.3 rubles from each liter of Ai-92 sold and 3.8 rubles from a liter of Ai-95.
Meanwhile, Belarus has increased fuel supplies to the Russian market. The press service of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange told Izvestia that 96.9 thousand tons of petroleum products produced in the neighboring republic were sold in July-September 2025, which is 36% more than the same period in 2024. At the same time, in July, Belarusian diesel supplies, according to the exchange, amounted to 9.5 thousand tons, in August — 21.1 thousand tons, in September — 38.7 thousand tons.
The press service of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) told Izvestia that the regulator constantly monitors prices at 12,000 gas stations. They also stressed that in September, at a meeting of the Stock Exchange Committee, the FAS invited market participants and the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange to jointly work out mechanisms that would prevent peak values during fuel sales auctions.
—The FAS continues to closely monitor the situation on the fuel market," the regulator's press service concluded.
This year, experts told Izvestia, the main causes of the crisis include an increase in domestic demand during the agricultural harvest and the holiday season, as well as planned and emergency repairs at refineries.
Does it make sense to ban the export of diesel
There is no point in completely banning diesel exports — there has always been a surplus of capacity on the Russian market, said Sergey Tereshin, CEO of Open Oil Market. According to him, until 2022 it was 50%, and after that it was 40%, taking into account the growing demand in the domestic market.
Moreover, the growth rate of retail prices is within the limits of inflation, the expert added. By September 29, 2025, the cumulative increase in diesel prices reached 3.7%, while inflation was 4.3%. For comparison, the increase in gasoline prices over the same period reached 9.2%.
In general, the expert believes that unlike gasoline, there is no risk of a shortage of diesel in the domestic market.
According to Ekaterina Kosareva, Managing partner of VMT Consult, this is mostly commercial fuel.
— Agricultural producers and logistics companies use it to a greater extent. A harvesting campaign is currently underway. And in general, against the background of the general fuel crisis, increasing the supply of diesel to the domestic market is a natural decision," she said.
This will generally reduce the overall tension in the market, the expert concluded.
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