Coal exports from Russia

• Coal mining in Russia
• Coal (Global Market)

2025: Russia takes nearly 100% of Chinese anthracite imports

In early May 2025, the Center for Price Indices (CDC) published data on Chinese anthracite imports. According to the results of the study, in March 2025, China imported a record 1.9 million tons of anthracite, of which almost the entire volume fell on Russian supplies. Compared to March 2024, the increase in imports of this highest grade of coal was 59%, while purchases of energy and metallurgical coal decreased by 9% and 3%, respectively.

According to Kommersant, due to an increase in the supply of anthracite and metallurgical coal, the total export of coal from Russia to China in March increased by 16% compared to February and by 6% compared to March 2024, reaching 7.3 million tons. According to Russian Railways, in the first quarter of 2025, 4.5 million tons of anthracite were sent through the railway network, of which 3.9 million tons were exported. These indicators increased by 13.5% and 14.7%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Russia accounted for almost 100% of China's anthracite purchases

Especially noticeable growth is observed in the eastern direction - the shipment of anthracite increased 5.9 times and amounted to 2.5 million tons. At the same time, supplies in the north-west direction decreased by 39% (to 1 million tons), and in the south - increased by 8.3% (to 0.4 million tons).

Independent industrial expert Leonid Khazanov emphasizes that saturation of the Chinese market with Russian anthracite is beneficial to both parties: China receives fuel at favorable prices, and Russia supports its coal industry. According to him, Chinese consumers took advantage of the favorable environment due to the oversupply of coal in the global market and the subsequent collapse in prices. An additional advantage for Russia is the displacement of American suppliers from the Chinese market due to the trade war between the PRC and the United States.^[1][2]

2024

Cut coal coke exports to $2.14 billion

Revenue from coal coke exports from Russia in 2024 amounted to $2.14 billion, which is 6.1% less than $2.28 billion in 2023. The volume of exports in physical terms decreased from 6.5 million tons to 6.3 million tons. This is evidenced by the data of the analytical company "Business Profile," published in November 2025.

The decrease in revenue is associated with a decrease in the average export price in foreign markets to $190-220 per ton. This is due to a change in demand and increased competition from China. In 2022, export revenue was $2.20 billion with a supply of 5.8 million tons, and in 2021 - $1.98 billion with 6.2 million tons.

Coal coke is a solid porous material with a high carbon content, obtained by coking (heating without air access) coal of certain grades (coking) in special coke batteries at temperatures of 900-1100 ° C. This is a key material for ferrous metallurgy, primarily for blast furnace production of cast iron.

The main buyers of Russian coal coke in 2024 are:

• China - about 45% of total exports;
• India - about 20%;
• Turkey - 15%;
• CIS countries - 10%;
• other countries - 10%.

China remains the largest importer of Russian coke, taking advantage of the Russian price and quality of products. India is showing growing demand amid the development of its own metallurgical industry. Turkey has been a stable partner for several years.

The average price of Russian coke in foreign markets in 2024 fell to $190-220 per ton against $210-240 per ton in 2023. In 2022, there was a peak level of prices of $250-320 per ton associated with a shortage of coal due to sanctions. In 2021, prices were in the range of $180-220 per ton.

The decline in prices in 2024 is due to several factors. A 7% drop in demand for steel in the European Union led to a decrease in export prices for coke. Rising supplies to India partially offset losses from the European market, but failed to fully restore price levels.^[3]

8% reduction in coal exports to 195m tonnes (Argus data)

The analytical agency Argus recorded a decrease in coal exports from Russia to 195 million tons in 2024, which is 8% less than in 2023. The data became known in mid-January 2025 and demonstrate the continuation of negative dynamics from 2022.

According to Vedomosti, Russian companies have significantly reduced coal supplies to China, South Korea and Turkey, losing market share to competitors from Australia and Colombia. At the same time, coal production in Russia amounted to 438.7 million tons, having decreased by only 0.2% compared to 2023.

Coal exports from Russia have been declining for the third year in a row

Fyodor Opadchiy, Chairman of the Board of the System Operator, announced an increase in domestic electricity consumption in Russia by 3.1% to 1191.7 billion kWh in 2024. In Siberia, consumption increased by 4.9%, in the Far East - by 5%.

According to the International Energy Agency, by August 2024, about 50% of Russian coal exports were under US sanctions. The largest manufacturers fell under the blocking sanctions: SUEK, Mechel, Sibanthracite, Elga, Coulstar, SDS-coal and Stroyservice.

Maxim Khudalov, chief strategist of the Vector Capital investment company, noted that "in the context of low world coal prices and an increase in tariffs for railway and port services, coal export for export in the south and north-west directions is becoming unprofitable."

According to the Center for Price Indices, the cost of thermal coal in the ports of the Far East decreased from $95 per ton in April 2024 to $87 in January 2025. In the ports of the Baltic Sea, prices fell from $61 to $60 per ton.

Neft Research consulting partner Alexander Kotov pointed to a drop in export yields by more than ₽8000 per ton from the peak level of 2022. According to Rosstat, in January - October 2024, the balanced loss of coal companies reached ₽84,8 billion, and the share of unprofitable enterprises amounted to 53%.

An additional factor in the decline in exports was problems with railway infrastructure. According to Russian Railways, coal loading in 2024 amounted to 331.4 million tons, a decrease of 5% compared to 2023. Total loading on the Russian Railways network reached a minimum in 15 years - 1.18 billion tons^[4] for the^[5]

Decrease in Russian coal exports by 6% to 199 million tons (IEA data)

The volume of coal exports from Russia decreased by 6% and amounted to 199 million tons in 2024. The reduction in supplies became known on December 18, 2024 from the report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The decrease in indicators is associated with sanctions restrictions, infrastructure problems and a decrease in the profitability of the industry. According to the IEA, Russia's revenues from coal exports decreased by 20% compared to 2021 due to the need to provide discounts to buyers.

Russian coal exports in 2024 decreased by 6%

Thermal coal exports decreased by 8%, reaching 149 million tons. According to IEA analysts, supplies of coking coal will continue to decline over the next three years and by 2027 will reach 44 million tons, which is 10% less than current indicators.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the domestic coal industry ranks third in the world in export and production, and the country's coal reserves will last for 500 years. According to him, the industry will continue to develop, despite the current difficulties.

In the first nine months of 2024, coal exports from Russia decreased by 10% compared to the same period in 2023, amounting to 147 million tons. Experts attribute the decline to low prices in world markets, rising logistics prices and limited railway transportation opportunities.

By 2030, Russia plans to increase coal exports by at least 70-80 million tons per year. This may be facilitated by a reduction in supplies from the main competitors - Australia, Indonesia, the USA, South Africa and Colombia.

Coal production in Russia in 2024 decreased by 1%, and according to forecasts, in 2025 will remain at the same level. At the same time, most exporting countries expect an increase in revenues from the sale of coal compared to 2021.^[6][7]

Coal exports from Russia to China for the year decreased by 22% to 78 million tons

At the end of 2024, the export of Russian coal to China amounted to about 78 million tons. For comparison, a year earlier this figure exceeded 100 million tons. Thus, a drop of 22% was recorded. The PRC remains the main importer of Russian coal, which was announced at the end of November 2025 by Deputy Prime Minister RFAlexander Novak.

According to him, Russia and China are implementing partner projects in the coal sector. In particular, the joint development of the Zashulansky coal deposit in the Trans-Baikal Territory is underway. The in-place fuel reserves at this site are estimated at 662.8 million tons. It is planned to reach full capacity in the amount of 5 million tons per year by 2029. The project is being implemented by Rezengol, a joint venture between En + and China Energy. The initiative is included in the strategic programs for the development of the coal industry in Russia until 2035 and approved at the level of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Coal exports from Russia to China decreased by 22% over the year

Russia is one of the leading coal producers and suppliers on the world market, and China is the largest consumer. In this regard, we see prospects for increasing the supply of coal and its processing products to China to more than 100 million tons per year, Novak notes.

At the same time, according to the Kommersant newspaper, citing data from NEFT Research, by the end of November 2025, thermal coal from the Russian Federation with delivery to China rose to a maximum since December 2024, approaching $100 per ton. This is due to the fact that winter replenishment continues in the Asian market. At the same time, there are certain difficulties with supplies due to failures on the railway.

Coal remains the main fuel for electricity generation in the world - it accounts for approximately 35% of generation. Moreover, it is China that is the largest consumer of this type of fuel.^[8]

Russia for the first time became the second largest supplier of coking coal to India

On June 21, 2024, it became known that Russia for the first time ranked second in terms of coking coal supplies to India. This is an important achievement for the Russian coal industry against the backdrop of global changes in the coal market. Read more here.

EU coal exports remain at zero

2023: Russia delivered a record volume of coal to Turkey - 27.5 million tons

At the end of 2023, the total supply of Russian thermal coal to Turkey soared by 46% compared to the previous year and amounted to 27.5 million tons. This is evidenced by data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).

As Vedomosti writes with reference to TUIK materials, the share of Russian energy coal in Turkey's imports in 2023 increased to 70% from 48%. This share and the volume of exports of Russian thermal coal to Turkey in 2023 turned out to be record, the newspaper notes.

A significant increase in the supply of Russian thermal coal to Turkey is explained by the fact that this resource is sold at a price favorable for Turkish buyers. So, according to Neft Research, the energy carrier was supplied at a discount to average market prices on the basis of CFR ("delivery to the port") Turkey, in 2023 the discounts were 7-24%.

The publication also says that Russian coal continues to displace Colombian coal from the Turkish market, whose supplies to the Mediterranean country by the end of 2023 decreased 1.7 times, to 6.3 million tons. The share of coal from Colombia in Turkey's imports decreased from 27% to 16%.

The growth of Russian coal exports to Turkey took place against the background of the reorientation of exports to new markets after the introduction of the EU embargo on its supply. Additional volumes of Russian coal going to Turkey, according to Boris Krasnozhenov, head of the securities markets analytics department of Alfa-Bank, were redirected there from the European market. FG Finam analyst Nikolai Dudchenko believes that coal can also be supplied to Turkey from those volumes that previously went from Russia to South Korea.

According to forecasts of power expert Kirill Rodionov, in the future the share of coal in Turkey's electricity generation will be reduced due to the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, as well as as as a result of Turkey's development of the Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea.^[9]

2022

Decrease in charcoal exports by 26% to 30.7 thousand tons

By the end of 2022, the export of charcoal from Russia decreased by 25.8% compared to the volume of one year ago and amounted to approximately 30.7 thousand tons. Such figures are given in a study released in December 2023 by the analytical company BusinesStat.

According to experts, the supply of charcoal from the Russian Federation abroad in 2022 turned out to be minimal over the past five years. At the same time, exports have been declining since 2019, as evidenced by BusinesStat statistics.

In 2021, the volume of export supplies to China sharply decreased. Then relations between China and Australia escalated, and in response, China banned customs clearance of coal from Australia. The bet was made on Russian coal, but it was not possible to establish stable large supplies due to logistics problems. As a result, China allowed the customs clearance of Australian coal, which has accumulated a significant amount over the year, and the need for supplies from Russia has disappeared, analysts say.

They note that in 2022, the western direction became inaccessible for the export of charcoal from Russia. After declining supplies to European Union China, countries accounted for more than half of shipments from the country. In 2022, restrictive measures were introduced for the supply EU of products of the Russian timber industry, which also includes charcoal. As a result of this situation, the main buyer of Russian charcoal was, Turkey deliveries to this country in 2022 reached 45.4% of total exports from Russia.

According to Kpler materials, for the entire 2022, marine exports of metallurgical coal, which includes both coking coal and anthracite, from Russia amounted to 36 million tons.^[10]

Formal decrease in exports by 7.6% amid the conflict in Ukraine

Coal supplies from Russia for export in 2022 decreased by 7.6%, taking into account EU sanctions during the conflict in Ukraine.

At the same time, many cases of smuggling of Russian coal to Europe through the Baltic states were recorded. Coal was marked as Kazakh or Kyrgyz. In total, Latvian customs opened 180 criminal cases in connection with evading sanctions. Nevertheless, no serious volumes of smuggling were noted. Previously, Kazakh coal did not bother at all through Latvia, but in 2022 coal went through Russia in transit.

Tripling coal exports to India

In 2022, Russia exported 8.43 million tons of thermal coal to India, which is 3.6 times more than a year earlier. This is evidenced by data from the Indian industry consulting agency Coalmint, which was released in January 2023.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to the conclusions of experts, the supply of Russian coal increased due to a more favorable price compared to South African and Australian fuel. In 2021, supplies of Russian energy coal to India amounted to 2.35 million tons.

The newspaper recalls that in early April 2022, the European Union included in the fifth package of sanctions due to the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine an embargo on the import of Russian coal. As a result, Russian coal companies are seeking to redirect volumes to the Asian market. At the same time, Russian coal miners are forced to sell products abroad at a discount. In July 2022, when the cost of energy coal on the global market exceeded $400/t, discounts on Russian coal, according to the Center for Energy Development, reached $200/t relative to regional benchmarks, and in October increased to 70%.

The share of Russian coal in Indian imports in 2022 was insignificant. The country purchased 161.8 million tons of coal in 2022, while 107.5 million tons came from Indonesia (+ 44.8%). At the same time, Coalmint expects that in the coming years India will reduce imports due to the intention to increase its own production.

Alfa-Bank Boris Krasnozhenov, head of the securities markets analytics department, suggested that Russia will be able to increase supplies to India thanks to discounts, the cancellation of which he does not expect in the foreseeable future. At the same time, he noted that if world coal prices fall, then supplies to this market may become unprofitable.

Kirill Rodionov, an expert at the Institute for the Development of Technologies of the Fuel and Energy Complex, recalled that supplies to India are inevitable in connection with the EU embargo, but the underdevelopment of the infrastructure of the Eastern landfill (Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Railway) remains a deterrent.^[11]

South Korea coal exports up 24%

Russian coal miners, through the provision of discounts, increased deliveries to South Korea by 24% in 2022, displacing the main player in this market - Australia. The growth of supplies was facilitated by a short transport arm from the Far East, as well as relatively affordable freight rates, which periodically allowed cargo to be sent to South Korea even from the ports of the European part of the Russian Federation.

Shifting coal exports from Europe to Asia

Europe closed its doors to coal from the Russian Federation after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, but new buyers were found in Turkey, Africa, China and India, Bloomberg analysts write. But Russian coal is sold at a discount.

Supplies of Russian coal to Europe in August, when the coal embargo came into force, fell by 77% in monthly terms, to 1.3 million tons.

To replace Russian coal, European consumers have multiplied their fuel imports from South Africa and Colombia, which are more expensive than supplies from the Russian Federation.

By early September 2022, the base price for coal had risen above $350 a tonne, about three times the price of a year ago.

2021

Russia exporter No. 3 thermal coal in the world

China and South Korea are the largest coal consumers from Russia

For 2021 Russia , it sends most of its coal to Asia, as it Europe avoids this fuel.

Russia is the largest supplier of coal to European countries

At the same time Russia , it remains the largest supplier of coal to the country. Europe

2019: Russia is EU's biggest coal supplier with 47% share

Notes