According to her, every spring there is an increase in prices for fuel and lubricants, which occurs due to the start of fieldwork in Russia and neighboring countries, thereby increasing the demand for fuel.
External factors also influence the situation: restrictions on the export of petroleum products and unstable geopolitical circumstances, such as conflicts in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. These factors affect both global prices and the cost of fuel in Russia, from which Kyrgyzstan receives the majority of its fuel and lubricants.
“Since the beginning of 2026, there has been a decrease in prices in Kyrgyzstan, and by March they had reduced by about 3 soms per liter. The current increase is gradual, and fuel prices have not yet returned to the levels of the beginning of the year — the difference remains within one to three soms,” she clarified.
Larisa Shustikova noted that sharp price jumps in the country are avoided thanks to effective cooperation between the cabinet of ministers, various ministries, and the antimonopoly service with oil traders. There is no fuel shortage in the country; the market is fully supplied.
The main part of fuel and lubricants supplied to Kyrgyzstan comes from Russia, accounting for almost 90 percent of the total volume. This is due to the presence of oil refineries in Russia, as well as duty-free supplies under bilateral agreements. However, some companies have begun to consider alternative sources of supply due to periodic shutdowns of Russian refineries.
At the same time, fuel prices in Kyrgyzstan remain at a level comparable to Russian and Belarusian prices, but higher than in oil-producing countries such as Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, in Armenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, fuel prices are significantly higher.
“Our oil traders are exploring opportunities for alternative supplies, for example, from Azerbaijan,” added Larisa Shustikova.
She also emphasized that in the current uncertainty, it is difficult to make predictions regarding fuel prices, as the geopolitical situation can change very quickly.
In light of the uncertainty in external markets, the authorities are considering a number of response measures, including the possibility of price fixing within agreements with Russian plants, tax reductions, subsidizing the sector, and providing preferential loans to oil traders.
According to her, final decisions on measures are made at the level of the cabinet of ministers, as the fuel and lubricants market has a direct impact on transportation costs and the formation of prices for goods and food products.
