Citizens gathered at Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar.

ULAANBAATAR, Oct. 2, 2026 — Motorists held a car protest in central Ulaanbaatar on Oct. 1 as fuel supply problems that have persisted for months led to renewed long queues at petrol stations.

Participants parked their vehicles around Sukhbaatar Square and voiced concerns about fuel availability, prices and the disruption to daily life. The protest caused traffic delays along Peace Avenue and on several roads in the city centre.

Fuel shortages bring motorists to the square

The protest began at around 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, with motorists gathering near Sukhbaatar Square. Some drivers got out of their vehicles, while others sounded their horns to express their opposition.

Participants said having to wait in line for hours to buy fuel was affecting their work, income and everyday lives. Drivers who rely on their cars, delivery workers and self-employed people were particularly affected, they said.

Some participants also raised other daily concerns, including rising prices for meat, food and consumer goods, as well as the availability of public transport.

Why have fuel prices risen?

Mongolia meets all of its fuel demand through imports, with Russia remaining its main supplier. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said the price of AI-92 petrol was increased by 250 tugriks per litre from July 15, 2026, while the price of diesel fuel was reduced by 150 tugriks. The ministry attributed the changes to shifts in Russian suppliers’ July border prices.

In August, retail prices for Euro-5 AI-92 rose sharply at some petrol stations. Citing data from the National Statistics Office, iKon reported that the price of Euro-5 AI-92 had reached 4,950–4,980 tugriks at some stations as of Aug. 24, while the average price of AI-92 in Ulaanbaatar was 3,040 tugriks at the time.

This did not mean that all types of AI-92 were being sold at the same price. Retail prices varied depending on the fuel type, standard and distributing company.

Supply problems behind the shortage

According to the Fuel Emergency Taskforce’s latest update in late September, AI-92 supplies had not been completely cut off, but reserves were below the level needed to meet normal demand.

As of Sept. 28, Mongolia had 7,680 tonnes of AI-92 in reserve, equivalent to roughly 11 days of supply, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said. At that time, 1,135 tonnes had been supplied to 95 petrol stations in Ulaanbaatar and 556 tonnes to 42 stations in the provinces.

Officials said a decline in fuel volumes arriving from Russia had contributed to pressure on domestic supply. At the same time, Mongolia is working to diversify its sources by purchasing fuel from China and South Korea.

As of Sept. 28, the first 10 railcars of an 8,000-tonne fuel order from China had arrived in Ulaanbaatar and entered the distribution network. South Korea was also preparing to supply 12,000 tonnes, officials said.

October supply: 57,000 tonnes of AI-92 from Russia

The government said on Oct. 2 that it had reached an agreement to purchase 57,000 tonnes of AI-92, 94,300 tonnes of diesel fuel and 5,000 tonnes of aviation fuel from Russia’s Rosneft to increase supplies in October.

It has also placed preliminary orders for 1,000 tonnes of K5/Euro-5 AI-92 from Gazpromneft, 8,000 tonnes of K5/Euro-5 AI-92 from China and 12,000 tonnes of K5/Euro-5 AI-92 from South Korea.

According to the government, Mongolia imported 64,573 tonnes of AI-92 in September, enough to meet ordinary consumption. However, monthly demand rises to 75,000–80,000 tonnes when consumption increases sharply.

Protest affects traffic

Vehicles gathered around Sukhbaatar Square during the protest, causing congestion on central roads. By 5 p.m., traffic had slowed at Tsetseg Centre, the Central Post Office, Bagshiin Deed and other central intersections, while movement was restricted on some routes, reports said.

The Traffic Police advised motorists to avoid some central roads depending on traffic conditions.

Some media outlets reported that police officers were involved in dispersing the protest in the evening. Further details may be clarified if official information on the incident is released separately.

Government orders normal fuel distribution

On Oct. 2, the day after the protest, Prime Minister N. Uchral chaired a meeting of the Fuel Emergency Taskforce and warned importing companies to distribute fuel in a way that would not cause difficulties for the public.

According to the government, it had taken note of reports from residents who were forced to wait in long queues for fuel and, in some cases, buy it at inflated prices. Relevant agencies were also instructed to monitor fuel supply and distribution.

Reserves remain a vulnerable point for Mongolia’s economy

The fuel shortage affects more than vehicle owners. Mongolia’s transport, delivery services, public transit, agriculture and goods logistics all depend directly on a continuous fuel supply.

As part of efforts to increase strategic fuel reserves, the government is working to build storage facilities with a total capacity of 300,000 cubic metres, of which 150,000 cubic metres are planned to be commissioned in 2026. It has also set a target of establishing a three-month strategic reserve by 2028.

In this way, the Oct. 1 protest once again brought public attention not only to fuel prices, but also to supply stability, strategic reserves, diversification of import sources and the impact of fuel prices on people’s daily expenses.