The average world price of Russia's major export oil blend increased by $45.66 per barrel, year-on-year, in the first half of 2008 to $105.31 per barrel, Russia's Finance Ministry said on Tuesday according to RIA Novosti.
"The average price of Urals blend stood at $127.76 per barrel in June compared with $67.9 per barrel in June 2008," said Alexander Sakovich, deputy head of the customs payment department at Russia's Finance Ministry.
Sakovich also said duty on Russian oil exports would rise by $97.8 to a record $495.9 per metric ton as of August 1, in line with world market trends.
"The average [crude] price was $123.36 per barrel for the May-June monitoring period, which puts the maximum duty rate at $495.94 per metric ton. Therefore we will reach a record export duty on Russian oil that will be fixed at $495.9 per metric ton from August 1," Alexander Sakovich, deputy head of the customs payment department at Russia's Finance Ministry said.