Russian govt considering bill on preserving Argus quotes for tax calculation - deputy finance minister

MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - The Finance Ministry has proposed introducing amendments to legislation that would allow for the continued use of the quotes of the pricing agency Argus, including for calculating the Mineral Extraction Tax (MET), and the corresponding bill is being considered by the government, Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Sazanov said.

Previously, Kommersant, citing sources, reported that the government had prepared amendments to the law prohibiting foreign companies from forming price indicators from March 1, in order to continue using Argus quotes. The law prohibits the conducting of commodity market research, including the formation of price indicators, for foreign entities and Russian companies with foreign ownership of 20% or more.

In the autumn of 2025, Argus informed the Finance Ministry that it would be unable to continue operating in Russia in a full capacity from March 2026 due to this law.

"The Finance Ministry proposed preserving Argus quotes; such a bill is being considered by the government," Sazanov told journalists.

Argus quotes are used, among other things, for calculating the MET and the fuel damper.