Kazakhstan has officially extended its restrictions on the export of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The ban took effect on 14 May 2026 and will remain in force for the next six months. The measure is designed to protect the domestic market from shortages and ensure a stable feedstock supply for the country’s petrochemical facilities.
A draft order from the Minister of Energy prohibiting the transportation of LPG, propane, and butane outside the republic by road and rail had already been circulated on 4 March. A similar restriction had previously been in place from 14 November 2025 for a period of six months and has now been renewed.
LPG is widely used in Kazakhstan as vehicle fuel and for household needs, particularly in regions not connected to the natural gas grid. The export ban helps keep prices in check and maintain adequate domestic reserves.
Notably, the impact of the restriction is partly offset by two factors. First, the order itself contains legal exemptions. Second, competition in the Central Asian market is intense: with Kazakhstani exports reduced, Russian producers have moved to fill the resulting gap — for example, in Kyrgyzstan.
According to CDU TEK (a branch of the Russian Ministry of Energy’s REA), Kazakhstan’s refineries produced 21.2 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2025, including 2.64 million tonnes of LPG. However, total petroleum product exports fell 8.5% over the year to 3.06 million tonnes, while LPG exports dropped by nearly 20% compared to 2024, to 643,000 tonnes. The extension of the ban is therefore a logical continuation of the country’s tightening export policy.
Kazakhstan is thus keeping LPG within its borders to prevent shortages and price spikes. Neighbouring states, including Kyrgyzstan, are redirecting their purchases toward Russian gas, while the Kazakhstani market remains under state protection.
Source: CDU TEK
Image: zakon.kz
