Russia bans producers from exporting gasoline until end-July

April 2 (Reuters) - Russia has imposed a ban on ​gasoline exports for producers of the ‌fuel until the end of July, the government said on Thursday.

It said the ​ban was introduced to keep the ​domestic market supply steady amid high ⁠seasonal fuel demand during the agricultural sowing ​campaign as well as due to global ​oil price increases.

The ban does not cover countries with which Russia has inter-governmental agreements on ​fuel supplies, such as Mongolia.

Several ​regions in Russia and parts of Ukraine under ‌Russian ⁠control were reporting gasoline shortages last year after Ukraine attacked Russian oil refineries and amid a seasonal surge in ​fuel demand.

Russia ​has ⁠repeatedly imposed curbs on gasoline and diesel exports to rein ​in rising fuel prices and ​tackle ⁠shortages.

According to industry sources, the country exported nearly 5 million metric tons ⁠of ​gasoline last year, or ​about 117,000 barrels per day.