In Q4 ‘21 and early Q1 ‘22, Russian coal exporters on the Baltic faced a series of logistical issues, that led to an unprecedented shortage of coal at local Northwest ports, threatening the breach of contractual obligations by coal suppliers and the failure of the region’s largest coal terminals to meet their annual transshipment plans. […]

Last week thermal coal indices on the European market managed to recover above 150 USD/t, despite a forecasted increase in average daily temperature and a sharp drop in electricity and gas prices amid growing LNG supplies to Europe. The Indonesian government’s ban on coal exports had a positive effect on South African material prices, which […]

On December 19, 2021, coal production was suspended at SUEK’s Rubana mine (the Kemerovo Region), due to a fire in the mine face. The mine’s emergency response mode was launched. All 128 people, who were underground were evacuated to the surface, no one was injured. ‘There will be consequences for SUEK in any case, as […]

Under the Ministry of Coal Industry of Kuzbass, in January-November 2021 coal mining enterprises in Kuzbass produced 221.6 mio t of coal (+20.2 mio t or +10.0% to January-November 2020). The production of coking coal during this period decreased to 65.3 mio t (-2.8 mio t or -4.1% y-o-y), whereas thermal coal extraction volumes amounted […]

Thermal coal indices on the European market settled at 150 USD/t amid uncertainty on the gas market, rising gas prices and cold weather in a number of European countries. European gas storages are 59% full, down almost 3% since December 15, 2021, while gas quotes soared to new all-time highs over 2,200 USD/m3. Last week, […]

Logistical issues with Russian coal deliveries to seaports are gaining momentum on all export routes, resulting in a shortage of material on the market that may cause an even greater deficit in the coming months. The supply disruptions are particularly acute at ports in the Baltic and the Far East. In the North-West direction, repairs […]

In January-November 2021, Ukraine’s coal imports surged to 17.7 mio t (+2.3 mio t or +15% y-o-y). Ukraine received 13.2 mio t or 75% of its coal imports from Russia, 3.0 mio t or 17% from Kazakhstan and 1.5 mio t or 8% from the US. On June 15, 2021, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy […]

Thermal coal indices in the European market were in an upward trend, having strengthened above 155 USD/t amid uncertainty on the gas market, a decrease in average daily temperatures in a number of European countries and limited supplies of Russian coal due to logistical problems. Russian gas supplies to the EU remain below scheduled levels. […]

Coal stocks at Rosterminalugol (Ust-Luga Coal Terminal), which is the largest coal terminal in the Baltic, for the first time fell to a historic low of 25 thousand t, while the simultaneous storage capacity of the terminal amounts to 633 thousand t. Lack of locomotives, repair work on the Oktyabrskaya Railway as well as congestion […]

Last week, thermal coal quotations on the European market strengthened above 133 USD/t, given the following factors: · ongoing uncertainty with the launch of Nord Stream 2; · significant increase in regional prices for electricity, natural gas and carbon permits; · forecasted decrease in average daily temperatures in a number of European countries. Russian FOB […]

In recent months, Rosterminalugol (Ust-Luga Coal Terminal), which is the largest coal terminal in the Baltic, has faced unprecedented restrictions from Russian Railways (RZD) in terms of limited rail shipments to the terminal. Due to a shortage of locomotives and repair work on the Oktyabrskaya railway, in October 2021, 718 thousand t of coal were […]

Last week, thermal coal quotes on the European market plunged below 130 USD/t on the news about the possibility of another price decrease in the Chinese market, while Russian FOB Ust-Luga 6000 was kept at the level of 165 USD/t. The drop in South African indices below 135 USD/t was also driven by the probability […]

Due to the railway congestion at the Eastern range and a large number of abandoned trains amid unfavorable weather conditions in ports, that cannot cope with unloading railcars, Russian Railways (RZD) introduced a number of restrictive measures on shipments of coal to the terminals of the port of Vanino, where a state of emergency was […]

The largest catastrophe in the Russian coal mining industry over the past ten years occurred on November 25, 2021, at Listvyazhnaya mine, owned by SDS. An explosion of a methane-air mixture is considered to be a probable cause of the accident, which killed 52 people (46 miners and 6 rescuers). Also, after the accident, 38 […]

A decrease in average daily temperatures in a number of European countries, as well as the uncertainty with the launch of Nord Stream 2, have strengthened thermal coal quotes on the EU market above 165 USD/t. The output of coal-fired power plants in Germany amounted to 10.8 GW, which corresponds to the utilization rate of […]

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, was held in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, 2021. The summit was attended by 25 thousand delegates from almost 200 countries and about 120 heads of state. The presidents of Russia and China did not visit the meeting. The parties to […]

Russian government will consider a bill, submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, introducing fines for non-compliance with orders to eliminate environmental violations during the transportation, crushing and sorting of coal in ports. If a coal terminal fails to comply with such an order twice, its activity can be suspended for up to […]

European thermal coal indices trended positively last week, climbing above 140 USD/t amid the suspension of Nord Stream 2 certification by Germany’s federal grid agency, while Russian FOB Ust-Luga 6000 rose to 165 USD/t. Due to ongoing problems with the railway line between South Africa’s coal-producing provinces and the port of Richards Bay, key importers […]

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, was held in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, 2021. The efforts of the conference participants were focused on 2030 emissions reduction targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century as well as on limiting the rise […]

The power industry of Ukraine faces tough times, entering the heating season with extremely low coal inventories at local power plants. The country fails to form a sufficient amount of coal reserves to go through the winter period due to a high load on thermal generation amid insufficient supplies of imported material. According to Ukrenergo, […]