MOSCOW, January 4 - RIA Novosti. The beginning of the year is traditionally calm for the Russian fuel market, so in January 2026, the situation with gasoline prices will remain stable, especially against the backdrop of increased production, shared Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of the fuel marketplace "Open Oil Market" (a Skolkovo resident), in an interview with RIA Novosti.
"The start of the year is generally quiet for the fuel market: for instance, in January 2025, Rosstat recorded a zero weekly increase in retail gasoline prices twice, while in the other weeks of the month, the increase did not exceed 0.1%. Therefore, in January 2026, prices will remain stable. Moreover, by the end of the year, oil companies managed to stabilize fuel production: in October 2025, the production of petroleum products in Russia increased by 6.6% compared to the previous month," he responded when asked whether a rise in fuel prices is anticipated during the New Year holidays.
Tereshkin explained that prices are also affected by a cooling demand during the winter season. This situation is characteristic not only of Russia but also of other countries with similar climates. For example, in the USA, where gasoline consumption is noticeably lower in the cold months than in the summer.
In January 2024, gasoline shipments in the US to the domestic market amounted to 8.3 million barrels per day - 11% lower than in July, and 8% lower than the average for the year, notes the expert. A similar pattern repeated in 2025: in January, gasoline demand in the US was 8.5 million barrels per day, while in July it was 9.2 million barrels per day, and for the first nine months, it averaged 8.9 million barrels per day.
"In Russia, this difference may be even greater due to the 'dacha' factor, which is absent in the US. This also includes the holiday factor: while in the US Christmas and New Year holidays fall at the end of December, in Russia they take place in the first decade of January," he added.

Source: RIA Novosti