Kazakhstan: extension of fuel export ban until 2026

On October 11, 2024, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan proposed a draft order to ban the export of oil-refining products from Kazakhstan by road and rail transport for six months. The draft was under discussion until October 16 and was put into effect ten calendar days after its first official publication on October 21, 2024. This measure also applies to Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states.

The ban was implemented to avoid a fuel shortage in the domestic market. Fuel prices in Kazakhstan are significantly lower than in the neighboring countries of Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. This leads to fuel being exported legally and illegally to these countries, where it is much more expensive. Details of the