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- Fill it up: gasoline at independent gas stations has fallen in price by 20% since its peak in September
Fill it up: gasoline at independent gas stations has fallen in price by 20% since its peak in September
Gasoline at independent gas stations has been getting cheaper for the second month in a row. In November, its price decreased by almost 20% compared to the peak values in September: to 93 rubles per liter of AI-95 and to 84 rubles for AI-92. Such calculations were made by Izvestia based on OMT Consult data. At the same time, fuel at independent gas stations remains more expensive than at the gas stations of oil companies, where prices have decreased by an average of 7.7% in two months, excluding the record price of AI-98. Experts explain the decline in prices by falling demand and a correction in the wholesale market. Whether we should expect a return to pre—crisis prices is in the Izvestia article.
How much have prices decreased at gas stations
In November, compared with the peak values of September 2026, the average price of AI-92 at independent gas stations in Russia decreased by 19.8%, Izvestia calculated based on data from OMT Consult. Currently, a liter of this fuel costs an average of 84.01 rubles at independent gas stations. Over the same period, AI-95 fell in price by 18.7%, to 93.47 rubles, AI-98/100 — by 11.7%, to 129.78 rubles, diesel — by 3.3%, to 98.52 rubles.
Despite the decrease, fuel at independent gas stations is still significantly more expensive than at gas stations of vertically integrated oil companies (VICS). After the September peak, prices at the gas stations of the holdings also went down, but they did not decrease so significantly. By November, AI-92 fell in price by 7.6%, to 61.37 rubles per liter, AI-95 — by 7.9%, to 66.30 rubles, diesel — by 7.4%, to 76.17 rubles. The exception was the AI-98, whose price dropped by a record 46.9% to 72.75 rubles.
The cost of diesel at gas stations of both independent networks and oil companies has already approached the June values, when the fuel crisis has not yet had a significant impact on the retail market. However, this fuel is still more expensive than gasoline.
The main reason for the decline in prices at independent gas stations is the disappearance of excessive demand, says Petr Shcherbachenko, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. As the situation normalizes, wholesale fuel prices decrease, so it becomes more profitable for independent networks to purchase it. As a result, private gas stations are gradually adjusting the cost of fuel, bringing it closer to the price level of vertically integrated oil companies.
According to trading data on the St. Petersburg Mercantile Exchange, from the beginning of September to November 12, a ton of AI-92 gasoline fell by 13%, to 65.62 thousand rubles, and AI-95 by 9.5%, to 72.53 thousand rubles, according to the territorial stock exchange indices of the European part of Russia. However, Dmitry Gusev, Deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Reliable Partner Association, believes that stock quotes currently do not reflect wholesale prices on the market. According to him, the bidding is actually not going the same as before, and is accompanied by numerous delays.
According to Peter Shcherbachenko, the price reduction is also affected by the return to operation of refineries that previously underwent scheduled and unscheduled repairs. The increase in supply helps to stabilize the market situation, the expert believes.
Winks have lower price dynamics than independent gas stations, as they kept prices at their stations low during the rush, artificially lowering them relative to market value for social stability, said Yuri Stankevich, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy. Now the gas stations of oil companies are recording profits, making up for what they missed before, he added.
Izvestia sent inquiries to the largest oil companies, independent gas stations, as well as to the Russian Fuel Union.
The Ministry of Energy confirmed to Izvestia the decrease in consumer prices for gasoline. According to Rosstat, from November 2 to November 9, the average cost of this fuel decreased by 73 cents, to 74.11 rubles per liter. Over the same period, diesel prices rose by 25 cents, to 86.63 rubles.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service informed the editorial board that the regions continue to conclude agreements with independent gas station operators to stabilize fuel prices. To date, 158 such agreements have been concluded in 53 regions, including 51 large independent networks. Work in this direction continues. If necessary, the FAS provides consulting and organizational assistance to regional authorities and gas station operators.
In addition, the agency initiated 76 cases and issued 116 warnings against a number of oil companies and independent participants in the petroleum products market.
Is it worth waiting for pre-crisis fuel prices
According to the authorities, the situation in the fuel market has stabilized. Despite this, restrictions for motorists remain in place in a number of regions: a ban on refueling in cans, limits on the number of liters per car, and a system of even and odd days.
Earlier, a number of media outlets reported that limits on fuel sales were re-introduced at Rosneft gas stations: no more than 30 liters in the city and no more than 50 liters on highways, for example, in the Trans-Baikal and Krasnoyarsk Territories, the Leningrad Region, Novosibirsk, Karelia.
According to Rosstat, during the week from November 2 to November 9, gasoline fell in price in 43 regions, and rose in price in 40. In Moscow, by November 9, the weighted average prices at gas stations increased by 0.24–0.56 rubles per liter, according to data from the Moscow Fuel Association (MTA). In the previous two weeks, the average prices for diesel fuel and gasoline AI-92 and AI-95 in the capital decreased.
Despite the current correction, wholesale and retail prices are unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels, according to Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market. According to him, the costs in the fuel supply chain are still higher than before the summer of 2026.
There is no economic reason to expect prices to return to pre-crisis levels now, Yuri Stankevich also believes. Dmitry Gusev explained that even with the complete stabilization of the fuel market, the cost of fuel will not fall back to last year's levels, including due to high inflation.
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