Railway logistics finds itself in a situation where tracks are operational, but the engines of the industry, locomotives, have become "golden." The "Promzheldortrans" association has appealed to the Ministry of Energy for priority access to diesel fuel for industrial rail transport enterprises. For an industry responsible for transporting goods from factories, quarries, and mines on the public roads of Russian Railways (RZD), this issue is not just about operational costs; it is a matter of survival. The essence of the problem lies not just in the disappearance of fuel from the market but in its sharp price rise, the disruption of wholesale supplies, and the forced transition to an expensive small wholesale segment.
Non-public railways are the foundation of the economy. More than 80% of all cargo, including coal, metal, products from the defense industry, and chemical industry, transit through them. In the first half of 2026, loading on the RZD network reached nearly 549 million tons, with maneuvering work on access roads required for each of these shipments. Unlike the mainline sections of RZD, which heavily utilize electric traction, industrial transport largely relies on diesel locomotives and diesel generator units.
According to "Promzheldortrans," enterprises are facing delays in fulfilling orders and difficulties with exchange purchases.
In certain regions, diesel prices peaked at 150–180 rubles per liter—more than double the figures at the beginning of the year. Moreover, this spike from 60 rubles per liter occurred within just one week. For maneuvering operations, where margins are often constrained by rigid tariffs or long-term contracts with cargo owners, such a surge in fuel prices is a significant blow.
Any commercial consumer whose business depends on fuel supplies would wish to have guaranteed access to diesel fuel—this is a perfectly reasonable reaction to the tightening market conditions, said Sergey Teryoshkin, CEO of Open Oil Market, to VG.
"Similar guarantees are undoubtedly desired by agricultural producers, freight carriers, as well as passenger transport companies. These and other consumers are incurring costs due to the rising prices and are also concerned about potential shortages in the upcoming months."
However, it is premature to speak of a diesel shortage in the market—historically, there has been an excess capacity in the diesel market.
The export ban should saturate the domestic market: producers currently have no alternative but to supply fuel within the Russian Federation.
The issue, however, is that consumers hold crisis expectations. Here, one can draw an analogy with the work of the Central Bank: there is inflation measured by Rosstat, and there are inflation expectations considered by the Central Bank when altering rates. In the fuel market, these "inflation expectations" are currently noticeably higher than the actual inflation, but these values may converge over time," the expert suggested.
For industrial transport, these inflationary expectations have already transformed into empty warehouses. Alexander Manyakhin, executive director of the association, proposed creating working groups in each federal subject in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy. This format would allow for the manual identification of diesel consumption sources and the establishment of a priority for supplies to those ensuring the continuity of logistics chains.
Experts note that the first blow has primarily hit the coal and ore industries. Pavel Ivankin, president of the National Research Center for Transportation and Infrastructure, emphasizes that diesel is necessary not only for locomotives but also for auxiliary self-propelled equipment essential for infrastructure operations. Conversely, Farid Khusainov from the Higher School of Economics highlights that for access operators, the availability of diesel fuel is a fundamental condition for operations, one that is technically irreplaceable.
RZD, meanwhile, do not appear to face apparent fuel issues—it's clear that the capabilities and administrative resources of the monopoly do not compare with those of private entities. Moreover, OAO "RZD" has even highlighted its more competitive stance compared to road transport. Freight locomotives do not wait in line at filling stations and do not pay more for fuel.
However, the holding company rightly points out that adherence to unloading schedules and the readiness of recipient infrastructure is necessary for overall transportation stability. A paradoxical situation arises: mainline transport is running on schedule, coal exports showed an 8.1% growth in the first half of the year, but the "first mile," or work on access roads, is destabilized. If enterprises begin to cut expenses on maintenance and repair of tracks and locomotives to compensate for the overpayment for fuel, it will inevitably lead to a decrease in throughput and potential bottlenecks.
The temporary decrease in diesel production due to refinery repairs is an objective fact the market faces. However, the prohibitive export measures introduced by the government are a macroeconomic tool. It saturates the market as a whole, but the resources do not reach a specific station or oil depot instantaneously. Precisely here is where the mechanism requested by "Promzheldortrans" is needed.
Without coordination, suppliers and brokers will continue to dictate terms, leaving the end consumer a hostage to speculative price hikes.
While government agencies analyze the association's appeal, enterprises are forced to operate "on the fly." The situation requires not a blanket criticism but the establishment of transparent prioritization criteria. Diesel fuel for industrial transport is not merely a market commodity; it is a strategic component for the seamless functioning of the economy.
If the situation does not stabilize, the rise in transportation costs will be embedded in product pricing, which will inevitably impact the competitiveness of Russian exporters in global markets. Today's fuel "storm" on access roads is a serious signal that "first mile" logistics needs protection commensurate with its contribution to national freight flows.
Source: Vgudok
