Railway logistics finds itself in a situation where the rails are ready for operation, but the engines of the industry—diesel locomotives—have become "golden." The "Promzheldortrans" Association has appealed to the Ministry of Energy with a request for priority supply of diesel fuel to enterprises of industrial railway transport. For an industry responsible for transporting goods from factories, quarries, and mines to public tracks of RZhD, this issue is not just about operational costs, but about survival. The essence of the problem lies not merely in the disappearance of fuel from the market, but in its sharp price increase, disruption of wholesale supplies, and the forced shift to an expensive small wholesale segment.
Private tracks are the foundation of the economy. They account for more than 80% of all goods transported, including coal, metals, products from the defense complex, and the chemical industry. During the first half of 2026, loading on the RZhD network reached nearly 549 million tons, with maneuvering operations on the private tracks underpinning each of these shipments. Unlike RZhD’s mainline segments, where electric traction is actively utilized, industrial transport largely depends on locomotives and diesel generators.
According to "Promzheldortrans," enterprises are facing delays in fulfilling orders and challenges with exchange purchases.
In certain regions, diesel prices peaked at 150-180 rubles per liter—over double the prices at the beginning of the year. Notably, this jump from 60 rubles per liter occurred in just one week. For maneuvering operations, where profit margins are often constrained by strict tariffs or long-term contracts with cargo owners, such a surge in fuel costs constitutes a serious blow.
Any commercial consumer whose business relies on fuel supplies would like to receive assurances of diesel availability—this is an entirely normal reaction to intensified market conditions, said Sergey Teryoshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market, to VG.
"Agricultural producers, freight carriers, and passenger transport companies would surely want the same guarantees. These and other consumers are incurring costs due to rising prices while also fearing shortfalls in the coming months."
However, it is too early to speak of a diesel market shortage—historically, there has been a significant surplus of capacities in the diesel sector.
The export ban should saturate the domestic market: currently, manufacturers have no alternative but to supply fuel within Russia.
However, consumers are experiencing crisis expectations. Here, a comparison can be drawn with the operations of the Central Bank: there is inflation measured by Rosstat and there are inflation expectations taken into account by the Central Bank when adjusting rates. In the fuel market, "inflation expectations" are currently noticeably higher than the actual "inflation," but these values may converge over time," believes the expert.
For the industrial transport sector, these inflationary expectations have already transformed into empty warehouses. Alexander Manyakhin, Executive Director of the association, proposed creating working groups in each region of the Federation in conjunction with the Ministry of Energy. Such a framework would allow for a manual determination of diesel consumption sources and establish a priority for deliveries to those ensuring the continuity of logistics chains.
Experts note that the first blow has primarily affected the coal and ore industries. Pavel Ivankin, President of the National Research Center for Transport and Infrastructure, emphasizes that diesel is essential not only for locomotives but also for auxiliary self-propelled machinery that supports infrastructure operations. Meanwhile, Farid Khusainov from the Higher School of Economics highlights that for operators of private tracks, the accessibility of diesel is a fundamental condition for functioning, which cannot be technically replaced.
However, RZhD does not appear to be facing evident fuel issues—it is clear that the capabilities and administrative resources of the monopoly do not compare with those of private entities. Moreover, OAO RZhD has even indicated its more competitive position compared to road transportation. Locomotives do not wait in line at gas stations and do not pay more for fuel.
Nonetheless, the holding rightly points out that maintaining a stable transportation schedule requires adherence to unloading timelines and the readiness of recipient infrastructure. This creates a paradoxical situation: mainline transport is running on schedule, coal exports showed an 8.1% increase over the half-year, but the "first mile"—that is, operations on private tracks—is destabilized. If enterprises begin to cut expenses on track maintenance and locomotive repairs to offset the extra fuel costs, it will inevitably lead to reduced throughput and potential bottlenecks.
The temporary reduction in diesel production due to maintenance at refineries is an objective fact that the market has to face. However, the prohibitive export measures instituted by the government—while macroeconomic tools—saturate the market overall, but resources do not reach a specific station or oil depot immediately. This is precisely where the mechanism requested by "Promzheldortrans" is needed.
Without coordination, suppliers and brokers will continue to dictate terms, leaving the end consumer a hostage to speculative price surges.
While government agencies analyze the association's request, enterprises are forced to operate in a "just-in-time" manner. The situation requires not sweeping criticism but the establishment of transparent prioritization criteria. Diesel fuel for industrial transport is not merely a market commodity but a strategic component of the uninterrupted functioning of the economy.
If the situation does not stabilize, rising transportation costs will be embedded in the cost base of products, inevitably impacting the competitiveness of Russian exporters in global markets. Today’s fuel “storm” on private tracks serves as a serious signal that “first mile” logistics requires protection commensurate with its contribution to the national freight flow.
Source: Vgudok
