According to a report in Russian newspaper Vedomosti on Aug. 18, Moscow was able to redirect all coal export volumes rejected by the importers in the EU to China and India in July. As a result, deliveries abroad were unchanged from the previous month, and record increases in world market coal prices enabled Russian suppliers to give deep discounts in deliveries to Asian markets.
According to the report, Russian coal deliveries to the EU could be 3 million metric tons lower in July than in June. Russian coal imports are supposed to be banned in the EU as of the end of 2022, but that policy, once announced, was implemented by many importers long in advance. But this drop “was largely offset by the redirection of volumes to the East—to India and China.” Vedomosti wrote that Eastern deliveries increased by 2.8 million metric tons. According to the Kpler analytical agency, the largest importers of Russian coal in July were China, with 6.7 million metric tons delivered, and India with 2 million metric tons.
