MOSCOW — Russia has sharply increased its exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries following new European Union sanctions on Russian energy, Reuters reported, citing industry sources.
The EU restrictions, which prohibit Russian LPG imports, took effect on December 20, 2024, as part of a broader sanctions package in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ban had been proposed by Poland, previously one of Russia’s largest LPG customers.
LPG, a fuel mixture composed primarily of propane and butane, is widely used for home heating, vehicle fuel, and in petrochemical production.
According to the Reuters report, rail shipments of LPG from Russia — including volumes from the Kazrosgas joint venture with Kazakhstan — rose by 80 percent year-on-year in January and February, reaching 140,000 metric tons across the region.
Afghanistan, now the leading importer of Russian LPG in the area, received 71,000 tons during that period, an increase of 52 percent compared to a year earlier.
Traders quoted by Reuters said Afghanistan’s annual demand for LPG is estimated at around 700,000 tons, making it a growing market for Russian energy exports as Moscow seeks to compensate for shrinking access to European markets.
