OREANDA-NEWS. Russian exporters of coking coal and coke will reorient supplies from the Ukrainian market to more profitable ones, writes the Russian Business Media. According to the results of 2018, revenue in the Ukrainian market of one of the largest Russian coke producers - PJSC Koks (part of the Industrial and Metallurgical Holding (PMH) Evgeny Zubitsky) - decreased by nine times, from 4 billion to 460 million rubles, notes Russian news paper.

In January-June 2019, Berezovskaya’s supply of coking coal to Ukraine (also part of the Zubitsky holding) decreased by 35.7%, to 193.6 thousand tons, in June only 4.13 thousand tons were imported, up to 33, 4 thousand tons a year earlier. The Ministry of Economy declined to comment on the reasons for the decline in exports and restrictions on the export of coke and coking coal from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, writes the Russian business media.

Also in July, the General Director of Altai-Koks OJSC (part of NLMK Vladimir Lysin) Pavel Lizogub complained that due to problems with coke supplies to Ukraine, the company was looking for other markets for itself. Until recently, Russia provided about 80% of coke supplies to metallurgical plants in Ukraine. However, measures taken to restrict the export of coal, coke and semi-coke to Ukraine and transit through it, together with market factors, that have taken effect since June 1, can change the picture, Russian business media writes.

Experts note that today Poland and Kazakhstan are also importing coke to Ukraine, and cooperation with China is being considered. The supply of coke from Russia to Ukraine in January-May 2019, according to the data of the Eurasian Economic Commission, amounted to 366.4 thousand tons with a total value of $ 103 million, which is 26.5% and 33.2% less than last year, respectively.