As reported by "Moscow Komsomolets," the sharp rise in fuel prices in the wholesale market often quickly affects retail prices, which could lead to a repeat of last year's autumn fuel crisis.
The lifting of the moratorium on gasoline exports has essentially become a necessary measure. The ban on fuel exports was introduced at the end of August last year when Russia experienced long queues at gas stations, and local authorities had to impose restrictions on the sale of petroleum products.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak claims that the balance between supply and demand has stabilized, and there are even surpluses of fuel now. Previously, the export restrictions were imposed to meet domestic needs, but continuing these measures now will lead to excess stocks in the market and the need to reduce processing volumes.
Currently, there are no signs of panic at gas stations in Russia. Considering the overall inflation rate of 2.11%, fuel prices at gas stations, according to Rosstat data, have increased by only 1.42% since the beginning of the year. This is not due to the greed of sellers, but rather to an increase in the value-added tax rate from 20% to 22%.
However, looking at the wholesale market, it becomes clear that there is no reason to relax. From January to early February, the prices for AI-92 at the St. Petersburg Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange rose by 7.3%, which is comparable to the price increase for this popular grade for the entire year of 2025 (+10%).
