OREANDA-NEWS. July 19, 2007. During January - June 2007 the mines of Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK) produced 42,2 mt and sold 41 mt of coal, down 7% and 5% respectively compared to the corresponding period last year, reported the press-centre of  SUEK.

The reduction was mainly due to lower demand for fuel from Russian power producers and housing utilities as a result of abnormally warm winter and high level of hydro with a consequent higher output of hydro power stations.

Domestic coal sales were down 12% at 28,2 mt, including sales to power utilities at 20,2 mt.

At the same time, export sales in the first half of the year were up 15% at 12,8 mt. The largest importers were UK, Japan, Korea, Finland, and Denmark.