Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy has confirmed that the country’s six-month ban on fuel exports remains in full effect, with no gasoline shipments currently sent to Uzbekistan or other neighboring countries.
Officials acknowledged a single exception earlier this year, when surplus volumes of AI-92 gasoline were exported to Uzbekistan in the spring. The ministry characterized the shipment as a routine measure aligned with international practice, designed to optimize domestic storage and increase tax revenues.
Since June, all fuel exports have been suspended to build strategic reserves ahead of scheduled maintenance at Kazakhstan’s oil refineries. The ban, introduced on May 19, covers gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products.
Reports of Fuel Shortages and Smuggling
Speculation over renewed fuel shortages in Kazakhstan surfaced in local media on September 22, with reports citing illegal cross-border smuggling as a contributing factor. Some sources also claimed that Uzbekistan had increased purchases of Kazakh gasoline amid a decline in fuel imports from Russia.
In response, the Ministry of Energy reiterated that no current fuel exports are taking place and emphasized that the export moratorium is being strictly enforced.
Uzbekistan’s Fuel Market in Transition
Uzbekistan’s state energy company Uzbekneftegaz recently announced plans to phase out production of AI-80 gasoline starting in September. Beginning in 2026, the country intends to supply only higher-octane grades, including AI-92 and AI-95, to align with international fuel standards.
The regional fuel market has already undergone significant restructuring. In April 2024, the Telegram channel Oil & Gas of Kazakhstan reported that Uzbekistan was scaling back crude oil imports from Kazakhstan in favor of cheaper Russian supplies.
During the first quarter of 2024, Uzbek companies imported 15,200 tons of crude oil from Kazakhstan by rail, down from 25,600 tons during the same period in 2023. Most of this volume was refined at the Ferghana plant.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprom Neft significantly expanded deliveries to Uzbekistan. In the first quarter of 2024, the company shipped 75,000 tons of crude via pipelines through Kazakhstan, nearly seven times more than the 10,700 tons delivered a year earlier.
