The Japanese government plans to expand its ban on automobile exports to Russia to include used domestic cars, which are popular in that country.

The government will likely approve the move at a Cabinet meeting next week, as part of tightened sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sources say an export ban will also be placed on diesel cars with an engine displacement of over 1,900 cc as well as hybrid and electric vehicles.

In April last year, the government prohibited exports to Russia of luxury vehicles worth more than 6 million yen, or about 43,000 dollars.

With the broadened embargo, Japan will only be able to export some compact cars to Russia.

The move comes after leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia at their summit in Hiroshima in May.

The United States and the European Union have already widened their restrictions on vehicle exports to Russia.

Figures released by Japan's Finance Ministry have found that the country's exports to Russia in 2022 totaled 603.9 billion yen, or 4.3 billion dollars, with passenger cars accounting for about half that figure.