Russia extends gasoline export ban to 2027 amid crisis, Kyrgyzstan diversifies fuel sources and sees record remittances

Russia has extended its complete ban on gasoline exports until January 31, 2027, with diesel exports for producers permitted from September 1, 2026. This measure aims to address a domestic fuel crisis exacerbated by drone attacks on oil refineries.

In Kyrgyzstan, the impact of these export restrictions is evident. The country's import of finished oil products, including gasoline, from Russia has fallen significantly. This has led Kyrgyzstan to seek alternative fuel sources, initiating its first deliveries of fuel from China via road and from Belarus via rail transit.

Amidst these fuel market shifts, Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a surge in remittances. For the first five months of 2026, the volume of money transfers reached over $1.24 billion, with a net inflow of more than $1.13 billion. Russia remains the primary source, accounting for approximately 83% of these funds. The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has also launched Apple Pay for local bank cardholders, utilizing tokenization and biometric security for contactless payments. Despite external inflationary pressures and rising global oil and food prices, the National Bank has maintained its key interest rate at 12%, while the real GDP growth for Kyrgyzstan stands at 11.9%.