Export ban does not apply: Russia boosts diesel shipments to key market 2.5-fold

Russian diesel exports to Central Asian countries surged 2.5 times in August compared to July, with shipments reaching over 370,000 metric tons, as reported by The Moscow Times on September 21. This increase occurred due to export restrictions imposed on other markets, as most Central Asian countries have bilateral agreements with Russia regarding petroleum product supplies.

Russia increased diesel shipments to Mongolia by 73.4%, Kyrgyzstan saw a 16.4-fold increase to 72,000 tons, and Tajikistan experienced a 3.5-fold boost to 56,000 tons. Kazakhstan received 28,000 tons after no deliveries were made in July. Overall, Russia's diesel exports to Central Asian countries and Afghanistan dropped by 3.8% year over year to 2.5 million tons between January and August 2026.

Mongolia remains the top buyer, accounting for approximately 50% of Russian diesel shipments to the region. Diesel exports to Central Asian countries and Afghanistan were halted on July 8 and extended until September 30 due to domestic fuel shortages caused by refinery shutdowns following Ukrainian drone attacks. As refineries resumed operations, production began to outpace domestic demand by 10%-15%, reaching around 170,000 tons per day by the second half of July.

This surplus accumulated in storage facilities depleted since the fuel crisis began. In August, storage capacity ran low, prompting producers to find other avenues to sell the product. The Russian government plans to extend the diesel export ban for producers by another month, until the end of October. The current export ban is set to expire at the end of September, but it is expected to be extended to ensure adequate fuel supplies for the domestic market.

Russia's export ban is diminishing global diesel supplies, forcing regular buyers like Brazil and Turkey to compete with European countries and other importers for U.S. cargoes.