Central Asia and Afghanistan increased fuel imports from Russia and Belarus by ​rail by more than 50% in the ‌first quarter as Moscow diverts energy flows from Europe and the Iran war curbs deliveries from the ​Middle East.

The ​traders said supplies to the region in ⁠January-March increased to 3.347 million metric tons, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

Since ​the European Union introduced an embargo on ​Russia's oil products in February 2023, the region has become the main export market for Russian fuel.

While Russia ​has banned gasoline exports until the end ​of July, many Central Asian countries, with which Russia ‌has ⁠inter-governmental agreements on fuel supplies, are exempt from the restrictions.

Mongolia is the biggest Russian fuel importer in the region. Supplies to the ​country in ​the first ⁠quarter rose by 29% year on year to 840,000 tons.

Afghanistan is ​not exempt from Russia's gasoline export ​ban, ⁠but Belarus can continue supplies.

The Taliban-ruled country's imports from Russia and Belarus jumped fourfold in ⁠the ​first quarter from the same ​period in 2025 to 530,000 tons, including 231,000 tons ​of gasoline.