Russia has imposed a complete ban on diesel exports until July 31 in response to systematic Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries that have triggered gasoline shortages and price spikes. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the emergency stabilising action during a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin, stating "Today, a ban on diesel fuel exports was introduced, and this will make it possible to increase supplies to the domestic market." The ban is designed to protect Russia's internal fuel market amid intensifying supply concerns, with the restriction excluding shipments under pre-existing government agreements such as the deal with Mongolia. As per Reuters, Novak told a televised government meeting that the fuel situation remained complex and that "it is clear that the current situation at filling stations is causing concern among the public." The government confirmed that Russia would start importing fuel in July as part of the domestic supply support measures.
The temporary export ban has pushed global fuel prices to multi-year highs, with benchmark European diesel margins rising to a record $60.17 per barrel after Russia announced the export ban. Russia accounted for about 11% of global diesel supplies last year, according to Bloomberg data from analytics firm Vortexa Ltd, making this ban a significant contributor to global fuel market disruptions. The decision comes as global fuel markets are already under pressure from the Iran war, which has restricted Persian Gulf fuel supplies and led to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's top oil corridor. The restrictions are likely to have a knock-on effect on diesel prices in Europe, pushing up costs for farmers, haulers and, ultimately, consumers. In June, Turkey and Brazil remained the dominant buyers, together absorbing at least half of the available cargoes, with shipping data showing Russia's exports of seaborne diesel and gasoil had already plunged by 39% from the previous month to around 1.8 million metric tons.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are intensifying, resulting in hours-long lineups for drivers in many locations and forcing many regions across the country to impose some degree of fuel rationing. Russia's crude-processing rates have been pushed to multi-year lows despite the nation increasing utilization rates of operating refineries to maximum levels, using reserves to increase domestic supplies and shortening maintenance repairs. Even before the ban, Russia's diesel and gasoil exports were dropping significantly, with June shipments more than halving from a year earlier. According to Kpler data, Russian diesel exports were just 187,000 barrels per day over July 1-8, compared with 535,000 bpd for the full month of July 2025 and 557,000 bpd in July 2021 prior to the Ukraine war. Beyond the main buyers, Morocco, Egypt and Senegal also emerged as major importers of Russian diesel cargoes in June, shipping data showed.
Russia's average retail diesel prices increased 3.4% week-on-week to 87.76 rubles ($1.15) per liter in the June 30 to July 6 period, marking the biggest weekly increase since December 2010. The government has responded by extending zero import duties for petroleum products for another year and starting this month to import petroleum products and produce additional volumes of fuel of lower environmental class. Russian exports of diesel were previously banned only for traders and sellers in the country that don't make their own fuel, with Russia being the world's No. 2 diesel exporter after the US. As part of the package aimed at easing domestic shortages, Russia will expand production by using lower-environmental-grade fuels. Industry sources indicate that Russia had started seaborne imports of gasoline from India, with the government confirming that the ban will be in place until July 31.
