Kazakhstan retains the lowest fuel prices among the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, despite a 15.6% annual increase in gasoline prices, according to infohub.kz.
Data from the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) shows that in June, gasoline prices in Kazakhstan rose by an average of 15.6% year-on-year, while diesel increased by 10.6%. In other EAEU states, price growth was even more pronounced: in Russia, gasoline went up by 19.9%, and in Kyrgyzstan by 17.7%, with diesel surging by 18.1% and 26.4%, respectively.
The smallest increase was recorded in Belarus, where gasoline and diesel rose by just 3.1% over the year. In Armenia, gasoline prices climbed by 18.4%, and diesel by 19%.
Despite the hikes, Kazakhstan remains the most affordable fuel market in the EAEU. A liter of diesel costs on average 336 tenge ($0.69 at June exchange rates), compared to 468 tenge ($0.96) in Belarus, 521 tenge ($1.07) in Kyrgyzstan, 560 tenge ($1.15) in Russia, and 755 tenge ($1.55) in Armenia.
The situation is similar for gasoline: in Kazakhstan, a liter averages 240 tenge. For comparison, in Belarus it costs 458 tenge ($0.94), in Kyrgyzstan 468 tenge ($0.96), in Russia 477 tenge ($0.98), and in Armenia 711 tenge ($1.46).
The EEC also notes that in June, consumer gasoline prices in Kazakhstan were 1.6 times higher than average producer prices. In Belarus, this ratio was 1.5, in Russia 2.3, and in Kyrgyzstan 49.1%.
Earlier, Kazakhstan was listed among countries with the cheapest gasoline in the world. However, low prices have a downside: there have been cases of illegal export of cheap fuel to neighboring states.