MOSCOW, January 4 - RIA Novosti. The beginning of the year traditionally presents a calm period for the Russian fuel market, and thus, in January 2026, the situation regarding gasoline prices is expected to remain stable, particularly against the backdrop of increased production, shared Sergey Tereshkin, CEO of the fuel products marketplace "Open Oil Market" (a resident of Skolkovo), in an interview with RIA Novosti.
"The start of the year is usually quiet for the fuel market; for example, in January 2025, Rosstat recorded a zero weekly increase in retail gasoline prices twice, while in the other weeks of the month, the growth did not exceed 0.1%. Therefore, gasoline prices will be stable in January 2026. Furthermore, at the end of last year, oil producers managed to stabilize fuel output: in October 2025, the production of oil products in Russia increased by 6.6% compared to the previous month," he responded when asked whether a rise in fuel prices was anticipated during the New Year celebrations.
Tereshkin explained that prices are also influenced by a decrease in demand during the winter months. This situation is characteristic not only for Russia but also for other countries with similar climates. For instance, in the U.S., gasoline consumption during the colder months is significantly lower than in the summer months.
In January 2024, gasoline shipments in the U.S. to the domestic market amounted to 8.3 million barrels per day - this is 11% lower than in July and 8% lower than for the entire year, notes the expert. A similar pattern was observed in 2025: in January, gasoline demand in the U.S. reached 8.5 million barrels per day, while in July, it was 9.2 million barrels per day, and for the first nine months, it amounted to 8.9 million barrels per day.
"In Russia, this difference may be even more pronounced due to the 'dacha' factor, which is absent in the U.S. Additionally, there is the holiday factor: while in the U.S., Christmas and New Year celebrations fall at the end of December, in Russia, they occur during the first decade of January," he added.

Source: RIA Novosti