Russia has temporarily banned exports of gasoline and diesel to all countries except four ex-Soviet states (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan) starting from 21 September 2023. According to the Russian Government, the ban is indefinite and meant to stabilise the domestic market. Further actions will depend on the saturation of the market. In addition, the measure will also prevent unauthorised "grey" exports of motor fuels.
Russia had already cut its seaborne diesel and gasoil exports by nearly 30% to about 1.7 Mt in the first 20 days of September 2023, compared to the same period in August. In recent months, Russia suffered shortages of gasoline and diesel and wholesale fuel prices spiked, notably after the EU and G7 countries implemented a price cap on Russian petroleum products in February 2023.
In 2022, Russia produced 265 Mt of petroleum products (including 85 Mt of diesel and 42 Mt of gasoline) and exported 111 Mt (38 Mt of diesel and 4 Mt of gasoline). Russia was the second largest exporter of diesel in the world in 2022, behind the US and before Saudi Arabia. As for gasoline exports, Russia ranked 15th, far behind the US, the Netherlands, India and China.