Belarus has sharply increased gasoline supplies to Russia: what is the reason?
26 November 2025 14:29
Belarus has sharply increased gasoline supplies to Russia amid a growing fuel shortage caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries.
This was reported by The Moscow Times, citing data from the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Unprecedented growth is recorded on the Russian market
In October, the volume of exchange trading in Belarusian gasoline increased 47 times to 36,480 tons, and inNovember (1-19), sales amounted to 21,720 tons, which is 7 times more than in the same period in 2023.
This indicates that Belarusian refineries have taken advantage of the sharp demand in Russia, where the government is trying to hold on to the domestic market by limiting fuel exports.
What about Belarusian diesel fuel?
Unlike gasoline, the supply of Belarusian diesel fuel does not show similar dynamics:
- in October, trading volumes fell by 27% to 27,360 tons;
- in November, there was a moderate increase of 21%, up to 23,820 tons.
This may indicate other logistical or production priorities of the Belarusian side.
What is behind the import rush in Russia?
Supplies from Belarus are growing amid the crisis in the Russian fuel market:
- after a series of Ukrainian strikes on refineries, 20 regions of Russia and the occupied territories have experienced a shortage;
- gasoline exports from Russia were banned by the government and subsequently restricted for other fuels – at least until the end of 2025;
- president Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the deficit in Russia reached 20%;
- supply disruptions are reported in more than 57 regions, i.e. more than half of the country.
In September, exports of Belarusian gasoline to Russia by rail had already quadrupled, indicating the first attempts to compensate for the losses of Russian refineries.
Political and economic context
Belarus, which is economically dependent on Russia, is actually acting as a “fuel cushion” for the country that is trying to stabilize its domestic market.
Minsk may also benefit from the growth in supplies, as it will receive additional export revenue amid a reduction in alternative markets due to sanctions.
