Russian Coal Exports Hit Six-Year Low Amid Sanctions, Infrastructure Woes
Over the past three years, Russian coal exports have significantly decreased, falling to 195 million tonnes in 2024—a 17.5 million tonne drop from 2023 and a 26.2 million tonne decrease from 2022. This decline is attributed to a confluence of factors including Western sanctions, a European embargo on Russian coal, and severe logistical bottlenecks within the Russian railway system. These issues, coupled with historically low export prices, resulted in an overall loss of RUB 81 billion (US$810 million) for Russian coal companies. Consequently, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia’s primary coal-producing region, also saw production decline by 15.8 million tonnes.
John Q. Hosedrinker