DUSHANBE, August 2, 2011, Asia-Plus — Russia has lowered export duty on light oil again.
By Russian government’s decree export duty on light oil is decreased from US$298.20 per ton to US$293.60 beginning on August 1, 2011. The export duty for gasoline is also decreased from US$400.50 to US$394.40 beginning on August 1, 2011.
It is to be noted that it is the second decrease in export duty for Russian oil products this year. The first decrease in export duty for Russian oil products was reported on July 1 this year, when the export duty on light oil decreased from US$309.60 to US$298.20 per ton and the export duty for gasoline was decreased from US$415.80 to US$400.50.
Since the beginning of this year, the Russian government has regulated the export duty on light oil. A sudden spike was reported in May, when export duty for Russian gasoline rose 44 percent as compared with April.
Introduction of export duty on Russian light oil has led to considerable increase in gasoline prices in Tajikistan.
In the meantime, the Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan says a new consignment of Russian gasoline at export tariffs set on July 1 is expected to arrive in Tajikistan in the near future.
“The price of one liter of 92-octane gasoline is expected to fall from 6.30 somoni to 6.20 somoni and the price of one liter of diesel fuel will also fall 10 diram – from 5.80 somoni to 5.70 somoni,” the source said.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), Russian oil products now account for 83 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.
Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly imported 255,800 tons of oil products for a total amount of US$242.8 million, with 213,000 tons of them being gasoline for US$204 million.