Russia Nearly Doubles LPG Exports To Afghanistan & Central Asia
Russia has nearly doubled its exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries this year, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Russia has nearly doubled its exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries this year, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Between January and November 2025, Russia shipped more than one million tonnes of LPG to Afghanistan and the region, accounting for about 36 precent of its total LPG exports. This compares with 19 percent last year, highlighting a sharp increase in shipments.
Moscow has been forced to redirect supplies of LPG, including propane and butane, away from European markets after the European Union imposed restrictions on imports from Russia in December last year following the war in Ukraine.
LPG is widely used as vehicle fuel, for heating and in the production of petrochemical products. Traders said exports to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan rose significantly in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Afghanistan has emerged as the largest buyer of Russian LPG in the region. In January, Russia accepted the credentials of the Taliban’s ambassador, becoming the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government.
According to Reuters, Russian LPG deliveries to Afghanistan, including supplies from the Russia–Kazakhstan joint venture KazRosGas, rose by about 50 precent in the first 11 months of the year to 418,000 tonnes.
Traders attributed the increase in Russian LPG exports to Afghanistan partly to a decline in Iranian supplies, caused by US sanctions that have constrained Iran’s export capacity.
