Russian gasoline exports grew by 37% year-on-year to 2.5 million tonnes from January to May, despite the impact of Western sanctions, the Kommersant newspaper said on Friday.

The European Union introduced a ban on Russian refined oil products in February, prompting Moscow to redirect the bulk of its exports to other regions like Asia and Africa.

The paper said, however, that Russia’s daily gasoline exports fell in the first six days of June to an average of 2,800 tonnes per day – four times lower than at the end of May.

Government sources told Reuters in May that Moscow was looking at banning gasoline exports to prevent domestic fuel shortages as the government moved to cut subsidies for oil refiners.

Energy minister Nikolai Shulginov later said that Moscow was not considering a ban, but would propose restricting exports if such a measure was needed.
Source: Reuters