Russia Reimposes Fuel Sales Limits in Moscow as Gasoline Shortages Deepen

Russian fuel stations have reimposed gasoline sales limits in Moscow as a renewed supply crunch, driven by Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries and elevated seasonal demand, spreads to the capital, according to Reuters.

Gazprom Neft has capped gasoline sales at 40 liters per customer at automated stations and 60 liters for gasoline at regular stations, while Rosneft has limited gasoline purchases to 30 liters per vehicle nationwide. Tatneft has introduced a 50-liter gasoline limit, while Lukoil has also restricted sales in Moscow and surrounding areas amid high demand and unplanned refinery maintenance. Diesel sales have generally remained less restricted.

Reuters reported that long queues have been observed at several filling stations in the Moscow region.

Fuel shortages began intensifying in May and spread across most Russian regions by July, though gas stations in Moscow managed to ease earlier restrictions in June.

At least 10 Russian regions had reintroduced restrictions on motor-fuel sales by mid-August, according to Reuters, including Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, Krasnodar, Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk, Oryol, Tuva and Khakassia.

Gasoline sales on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange have fallen by about 20% since the beginning of August, compared with the second half of July, according to exchange data cited by Reuters.

The shortages have exposed the impact of attacks on Russia’s extensive refining network. Reuters reported that Russian seaborne exports of petroleum products fell 33.3% month-on-month in July and 54.7% year-on-year to 3.93 million metric tons, as unplanned refinery maintenance reduced available fuel supplies.