OREANDA-NEWS Coal exports from Russia in January 2024 fell by 8% compared to the same period last year, reaching 14.6 million tons, according to data provided by two sources familiar with the statistics of the Ministry of Energy. This reduction affected both energy and metallurgical (coking) coal. Sales of energy coal decreased by 8.2%, amounting to about 11.9 million tons, and the volume of coking coal supplies decreased by 8%, reaching 2.7 million tons.

A decrease in demand for Russian coal was noted by the largest importers, including China, India and Turkey. The largest decrease in demand in January was registered in India and Turkey, where supply volumes decreased by 55% and 47%, respectively. While in China, the decrease in Russian coal imports amounted to 10.5%.

Despite the decline in exports, coal production in Russia showed positive dynamics, growing by 1.7% by January 2023, amounting to 35.8 million tons. The increase in domestic demand for coal, especially from coal-fired thermal power plants, had a positive impact on production.

A significant reduction in export supplies was caused by the restructuring of logistics chains and the search for new markets in connection with the EU ban on the import of Russian coal. Russian companies are actively developing supplies to Asia, which leads to a symbolic increase in coal production.