MOSCOW, January 4 - RIA Novosti. The beginning of the year is traditionally calm for the Russian fuel market; therefore, in January 2026, the situation regarding gasoline prices will remain stable, particularly against the backdrop of increased production, shared Sergey Tereshkin, General Director of the fuel marketplace "Open Oil Market" (a Skolkovo resident) with RIA Novosti.
"The start of the year is usually quiet for the fuel market: for instance, in January 2025, Rosstat recorded a zero weekly growth in retail gasoline prices twice, while in the remaining weeks of the month, the increase did not exceed 0.1%. Thus, in January 2026, prices will be stable. Moreover, at the end of the year, oil producers managed to stabilize fuel output: in October 2025, the production of petroleum products in Russia rose by 6.6% compared to the previous month," he replied to a question regarding the expected rise in fuel prices during the New Year holidays.
Tereshkin explained that prices are also influenced by a cooling demand during the winter months. This situation is typical not only for Russia but also for other countries with similar climates. For example, in the United States, gasoline consumption is significantly lower in the winter compared to summer months.
In January 2024, gasoline shipments in the USA to the domestic market totaled 8.3 million barrels per day – this is 11% lower than in July, and 8% lower than the yearly average, notes the expert. A similar pattern was observed in 2025: in January, gasoline demand in the USA was 8.5 million barrels per day, while in July it was 9.2 million barrels per day, with an average of 8.9 million barrels per day over the first nine months.
"In Russia, this difference may be even more pronounced due to the 'dacha' factor, which is absent in the USA. This also includes the holiday factor: while Christmas and New Year celebrations in the USA fall at the end of December, in Russia, they occur in the first decade of January," he added.

Source: RIA Novosti