The Russian government will keep its ban on gasoline exports in place until the end of 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on Saturday. The extension, which applies to both producers and non-producers, replaces the previous expiry date of 31 July. Separately, the ban on diesel exports will be lifted gradually “as the market recovers,” Novak said, in a move designed to prevent refineries from facing overstock and cuts to processing volumes.

The restrictions were introduced this summer in response to a fuel crisis triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries, which knocked out significant processing capacity and disrupted supply chains. Queues at filling stations and rationing spread across most regions, including occupied Crimea, prompting the Kremlin to ban exports of gasoline and diesel in early July to stabilise the domestic market. Officials also authorised imports and the use of lower-ecological-grade fuels to ease shortages.

Viewed from Moscow, the differentiated approach — extending the gasoline curb while preparing to ease diesel restrictions — reflects a bid to shield the more volatile summer gasoline market while paving the way for diesel exports to resume once internal demand is met. Regional authorities in Zabaikalsky, Kaliningrad, Irkutsk and other areas have reported early signs of improvement, though the government acknowledges the situation remains “complicated.” Novak stressed that re-opening diesel exports is essential for maintaining full utilisation rates at refineries.

In European and Asian refined-product markets, the signal of an eventual return of Russian diesel has been met with caution; traders note that the pace of refinery repairs and the trajectory of domestic consumption remain uncertain. The Kremlin has not provided a timeline for lifting the diesel ban, tying it loosely to market conditions. The next milestone is the formal extension of the gasoline ban beyond July, with periodic government assessments expected to determine when diesel can again flow abroad.