DUSHANBE, February 7, 2011, Asia-Plus — By Russian government’s decree the export duty on light oil rose 9.1 percent beginning from February 1 – from US$226.20 to US$232.20 per one ton.
According to the Russian government’s website, the export duty on dark-colored stocks has risen from US$121.90 to US$161.80 per one ton.
According to the Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, Tajikistan imports gasoline, air kerosene and diesel fuel from Russia. The source at the antimonopoly commission says Russia justified the decision as based on world market trends.
It is to be noted the price of one liter of 92-octane gasoline in Dushanbe has risen from 4.50 somoni on February 5 to 4.60 somoni, with similar price rises in other parts of the country.
We will recall that Russia on May 1 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. 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 accounts for 92.9 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.
