Central Bank of Russia still not expecting gasoline imports to have much impact on trade balance

MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax) - Gasoline imports should not have much impact on Russia's trade balance, Andrei Gangan, director of the CBR's Monetary Policy Department, told journalists on the sidelines of the RBC Capital Markets forum.

"We see that some of our gasoline supply on the domestic market is being met with imports. I wouldn't say this significantly changes our balance of payments forecast, imports included," Gangan said.

He said the fiscal rule mechanism significantly smoothed out fluctuations in commodity markets and their impact on the ruble's exchange rate.

"But we need to realize that we don't just export oil, but also, to a large extent, gas, metals and other goods. If prices for them rise and become very volatile, then of course this does one way or another affects the exchange rate," he said.