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Market Chatter: Russian Government Considers Lowering Standards on Fuel to Tackle Shortages

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Russia's government is considering lowering technical standards on gasoline and diesel sold in the country, financial newspaper Kommersant reported on Tuesday, as fuel shortages fan out across its vast territory.

The changes would make possible the sale of fuel produced to Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 standards, which have long since been superseded by more stringent standards.

The article made no mention of widespread fuel supply shortages which were acknowledged on Sunday by President Vladimir Putin. They have resulted from repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, to deprive the country of both fuel and funds to keep up its war.

The government is also considering the import of lower-quality fuel. For diesel, methanol content would be a maximum 3%. Euro-2 grade fuel was banned in Russia in 2013.

In the autumn of 2025, the government permitted some refineries to produce gasoline and diesel to a Euro-3 standard.

Sources told the newspaper that the reduction to Euro 3 standards appear to have been insufficient to ensure the gasoline market remained supplied.

The article cited one fuels researcher who said that the lower standards carry some risk for newer vehicles, but less so for older models.

Russia's energy ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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