DUSHANBE, March 18, 2011, Asia-Plus — By Russian government’s decree the export duty on light oil rose 5.3 percent beginning from March 1 – from US$232.20 to US$250.60 per one ton.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) of Tajikistan, negotiations between the governments of Tajikistan and Russia on canceling the export duty on light oil for Tajikistan are still going on. “But we cannot say anything about the possible results of the negotiations as the Russian side is still considering the issue,” the MEDT source said.
According to him, Russia justifies its decision to raise the export duty for light oil as based on world market trends.
In the meantime, Russian media outlet report that the export duty on oil products may be raised in April again. RIA Novosti reports Russia may raise the export duty on oil products to US$285.00 beginning on April 1, 2011.
According to the results of monitoring by the MEDT, the price of one liter of 95-octane gasoline in Dushanbe has risen from 4.50 somoni in January to 4.70 somoni, with similar price rises in other parts of the country.
We will recall that Russia on May 1, 2010 introduced the export duty on light oil for Tajikistan at the rate of 203.7 U.S. dollars per one ton and on June 1, the export duty was raised to 209.1 U.S. dollars. On December 1, 2010, Russia raised the export duty on light oil to US$226.20. On February 1, 2011, Russia raised the export duty on light oil to U$232.20.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had been receiving Russian fuel duty free since 1995, in keeping with protocols to the government-to-government agreements on the establishment of a free trade zone within the CIS area. However, Russian customs started collecting a duty on oil products exported to Kyrgyzstan on April 1 and to Tajikistan on May 1.
Introduction of the export duty on light oil has resulted in gasoline prices rising in Tajikistan in late May 2010. According to the antimonopoly agency, gasoline prices rose at least 30 percent during the second half-year of 2010.
Russia now reportedly accounts for 92.9 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.
