Russia has for now kept in place a ban on diesel exports by rail, the Kommersant daily reported on Saturday, after the energy ministry lifted restrictions on gasoline exports a day earlier.

Russia, the world’s top seaborne exporter of diesel, introduced a ban on fuel exports on Sept. 21 in order to tackle high domestic prices and shortages. Only four ex-Soviet states were exempt.

The energy ministry said on Friday Russia had lifted restrictions on gasoline exports, saying there was now a surplus of supply while wholesale prices had declined.

On Oct. 6, it had eased some restrictions and allowed the export of diesel by pipeline but not by road or rail.

The energy ministry made no mention of railway diesel exports on Friday, but Kommersant reported that such exports, which account for a small proportion of overall exports, would still be banned.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow, Editing by Andrew Osborn)