DUSHANBE, October 7, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Russia has lowered export duty on light oil again.

By Russian government’s decree export duty on light oil is decreased from US$297.00 per ton to US$271.50 beginning on October 1, 2011.  The export duty for gasoline is decreased from US$399.00 to US$370.20 beginning on October 1, 2011.

It is to be noted that it is the third decrease in export duty for Russian oil products this year.  The first decrease in export duty for Russian oil products was reported on July 1 this year, when the export duty on light oil decreased from US$309.60 to US$298.20 per ton and the export duty for gasoline was decreased from US$415.80 to US$400.50 and the second decrease was reported in August, when Russia decreased export duty on light oil from US$298.20 per ton to US$293.60 and the export duty for gasoline from US$400.50 to US$394.40 beginning on August 1, 2011.

In September, Russia, however, raised export duty on light oil is raised from US$293.60 per ton to US$297.50 and the export duty for gasoline from US$394.40 to US$399.70.

Russia cancelled Tajikistan''s tax exemption on May 1, 2010 and the Russian government has regulated the export duty on light oil since the beginning of this year.  A sudden spike was reported in May, when export duty for Russian gasoline rose 44 percent as compared with April.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan (MEDT) says Russia now provides some 90 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports and introduction of export duty on Russian light oil has led to considerable increase in gasoline prices in Tajikistan.

According to the findings of survey conducted by the MEDT specialists, gasoline prices have risen 51 percent in Tajikistan since September.

In the meantime, Kazakhstan that introduced export duty on its oil products in July also raised export duty on light oil is raised from US$114.05 per ton to US$143.54 and the export duty for black product from US$76.03 to US$95.69.