On January 8, Eugenia Gusilov discussed on Digi24 the evolution of fuel prices at the pump in Romania. The temporary price drop observed is conjunctural, occurring within a favorable window while the import of diesel and fuel from Russia remains permitted until February 5, 2023.

Additionally, China's energy consumption has not yet fully recovered, as a sudden exit from quarantine led to an explosion of Covid cases that temporarily delayed the restart of its economic engine.

Meanwhile, Europe continues its efforts to replace Russian petroleum products with supplies sourced primarily from the Middle East including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, alongside Asia, India, and the United States. However, market difficulties are anticipated to emerge in the second half of the year, starting around June, and intensify toward autumn.