Russia boosted diesel exports to Central Asia in August, traders say

Traders said that Russia's diesel shipments to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan in August more than doubled from July, exporting more than 370,000 metric tons to the region.

Despite an increase in Russia's diesel production to about 170,000 tons per day, that is not enough to resume full-scale diesel exports from Russia, traders said.

An industry source said that diesel deliveries to Russia's domestic market fell to 4.7 million tons in August from 5.0 million tons in July.

Diesel shipments to Mongolia rose to about 215,000 tons in August from 124,000 tons in July, traders said.

Exports to Kyrgyzstan increased to more than 72,000 tons from only 4,400 tons while deliveries to Tajikistan rose to more than 56,000 tons from 16,000 tons.

Kazakhstan imported about 28,000 tons of Russian diesel in August, compared with none in July.

For January to August, Russian diesel exports to Central Asia and Afghanistan totalled 2.5 million tons, down slightly from 2.6 million tons in the corresponding period of 2025.

Mongolia remained the largest buyer of Russian diesel, accounting for about half of total shipments to Central Asia and Afghanistan this year, traders said.

MOSCOW, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Russia sharply increased diesel exports to Central Asian countries in August despite a ban on supplies to most foreign markets, traders said on Monday, citing recovering output.

Russia has repeatedly imposed curbs on gasoline and diesel exports to rein in rising fuel prices and tackle shortages triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.

In late August, Moscow extended a ban on diesel exports until the end of September while allowing supplies to countries such as former Soviet republics and Mongolia under intergovernmental agreements.