From April, Russia to Halt Fuel Exports!

Russia’s government is reportedly set to halt petrol exports from 1 April. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that he has instructed the energy ministry to draft regulations banning petrol exports.

Cited from Reuters via detikFinance on Sunday (29/3/2026), this policy is planned to last for a considerable period, until 31 July 2026. Novak explained that Moscow is forced to take this step following turmoil in the global oil market. Fluctuating oil prices are partly attributed to unrest in the Middle East since February.

Russia has repeatedly imposed restrictions on petrol and diesel exports. These efforts are routinely undertaken by the local government to curb fuel price surges and address shortages in the domestic market.

Novak revealed that foreign demand for Russian energy remains very high amid plans to stop oil fuel exports. However, he emphasised that domestic stability is the Kremlin’s top priority.

Last year, several regions in Russia and parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia reported petrol shortages. This occurred after Ukraine intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries, coinciding with a surge in fuel demand.

In an official government statement, Russia’s crude oil processing volume currently remains at the same level as last year. This is to ensure stable domestic supply of oil products.

Based on industry data, last year alone, Russia exported nearly 5 million metric tonnes of petrol to international markets. In detail, this export figure equates to shipments of around 117,000 barrels of petrol per day.