Russia Moves to Ban Gasoline Exports Starting April 1

(MENAFN) Russia is moving to halt gasoline exports for four months beginning April 1, 2026, as the Kremlin scrambles to protect domestic fuel supplies amid mounting turbulence in global oil markets driven by the Middle East crisis.

Alexander Novak, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, has directed the Ministry of Energy to draft a formal government decree enshrining the ban, according to a government statement released Friday.

A news agency reported the export prohibition would remain in force through July 31, 2026.

The sweeping measure, hammered out during a domestic fuel market meeting chaired by Novak, is explicitly designed to put Russian consumers first. The government said in a statement that the move “aims to stabilize prices and ensure priority supply to the domestic market.”

Officials gathered at the meeting emphasized a direct mandate from the highest levels of the Russian government — underscoring the task set by Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevent domestic fuel price increases from exceeding projected levels.

Novak pointed to deepening instability in international energy markets as a key driver behind the decision, warning of the ripple effects now reaching Russian consumers.

“The Deputy Prime Minister noted that turbulence in the global oil and petroleum product market caused by the crisis in the Middle East is leading to significant price fluctuations,” the statement read.

Despite the defensive nature of the export ban, Novak struck a note of confidence regarding Russia’s standing in global energy trade, adding that “strong demand for Russian energy resources in foreign markets remains a positive factor.”

Russia has previously deployed temporary export bans on fuel as a blunt instrument to cool domestic prices — a tool it now appears ready to wield once again as geopolitical shockwaves continue to rattle international commodity markets.

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