The rise in artisanal gasoline production within Ukraine was one of the factors behind the decline in official fuel imports in August 2026, according to the A-95 Consulting Group.
According to the group, imports of automotive gasoline in August totaled 152,000 metric tons, which is 7% less than a year earlier.
“In August, gasoline shipments were lower due to large carryover stocks and the growth of domestic illicit production, driven by the ability to add tax-exempt solvents,” A-95 reported.
Experts believe that government agencies—primarily the State Tax Service—need to strengthen oversight of this sector.
“This is not only a matter of losses to the state budget but also of the questionable quality of such fuel,” the group emphasized.
The use of components not subject to excise tax as motor fuel potentially allows producers to lower the cost of gasoline blends and gain an advantage over legal market participants who pay fuel taxes in full.
At the same time, there was no overall gasoline shortage on the Ukrainian market in August. Since the beginning of 2026, official import volumes have remained higher than last year’s: 1.12 million metric tons of gasoline were imported over eight months, which is 16% more than a year earlier.
The largest importers remain OKKO, WOG, UPG, and Ukrnafta, while the main supplier countries are Lithuania and Poland.
EXCISE TAX, FUEL, GASOLINE, TAX, UKRAINE
