Russian coal exports have fallen to a 6-month low total during Jul’19, driven by lower appetite for non-coking coal as seen among its major importers.
Data provided by Russian customs indicate that coal exports by the country had decreased 29% M-o-M to 14.18 MnT in Jul’19 compared with 19.94 MnT in Jun’19, but were still marked 20% higher on the year from 11.83 MnT in Jul’18.
Amid terminal upgrades and a growing consumer preference for Russian coal, the country had witnessed a remarkable growth in exports during CY19. In the first 7 months of CY19 (Jan-Jul’19), Russian coal exports have totaled 120.56 MnT, up 9% Y-o-Y from 110.84 MnT noted in the same period last year.
Grade-wise Coal Exports:
The month of July had seen a fall in exports of entire coal/coke products supplied by Russia led by non-coking coal, whose monthly volume had dropped to its lowest total since Jan’19. Non-coking coal exports stood 9.73 MnT in Jul’19, down 31% M-o-M from 14.19 MnT in Jun’19.
Anthracite was the second-largest traded coal commodity in Jul’19, whose exports decreased 18% M-o-M to 2.27 MnT.
Russian coking coal exports extended its fall on the month, which were marked at 1.84 MnT in Jul’19 against 2.29 MnT in Jun’19.
| Grades | Jul’19 | Jun’19 | % Change |
| Non Coking Coal | 9.73 | 14.19 | -31% |
| Anthracite | 2.27 | 2.78 | -18% |
| Coking Coal | 1.84 | 2.29 | -20% |
| Met Coke | 0.24 | 0.39 | -38% |
| Pet Coke | 0.1 | 0.21 | -52% |
| Others | 0 | 0.06 | – |
| Grand Total | 14.18 | 19.94 | -29% |
Source: Russian customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Importers:
China remained the largest coal importer with receipt of 2.5 MnT coal in Jul’19. Monthly coal volume had fell 11% M-o-M from 2.81 MnT in Jun’19, but was 56% higher on the year from 1.6 MnT in Jul’18.
Japan emerged as the second-largest coal importer in Jul’19, despite recording its lowest coal intake in the past 3 months. Japanese coal imports decreased 11% on the month to 1.51 MnT, but were up 13% Y-o-Y from 1.34 MnT in Jul’19.
Germany’s coal imports slipped 45% M-o-M to 1.29 MnT during Jul’19. The country has witnessed increased coal sourcing from Russia in CY19.
Aggregate Jan-Aug’19 German coal imports from Russia surged 156% Y-o-Y to 13.42 MnT from 5.25 MnT noted in the year-ago period. Besides, imports in Jul’19 was marked 108% higher on the year from 0.62 MnT in Jul’18.


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