In January-September 2022, Kazakh seaborne coal exports surged to 6.6 mio t (+3.1 mio t, or +85.6% y-o-y). Total coal exports from Kazakhstan amounted to 24.7 mio t (+1.9 mio t or +8.1% y-o-y).
The harsh international economic sanctions against Russia, as well as the embargo on Russian coal exports to European countries, starting from mid-August 2022 created a potential opportunity for Kazakh suppliers to significantly increase coal shipments in this direction. In addition, Poland’s ban on imports and transit of Russian coal from April 16, 2022, also contributed to the growth of Kazakh coal exports.
Seaborne supplies of Kazakh coal were handled via the following ports:
North-West, total: 3.7 mio t (+2.5 mio t or +226.8% y-o-y)
· Ventspils (2.0 mio t)
· Riga (0.66 mio t),
· Ust-Luga (0.45 mio t),
· Vyborg (0.30 mio t),
· others (0.26 mio t.)
Black Sea & Azov Sea, total: 3.0 mio t (+0.51 mio t or +20.8% y-o-y)
· Taman (2.3 mio t),
· Kavkaz (0.26 mio t),
· Rostov (0.19 mio t),
· others (0.25 mio t).
Over the nine months of 2022, Kazakh overland coal shipments dropped to 18.0 mio t (-1.2 mio t or -6.3% y-o-y), including exports to Russia 15.7 mio t (+0.72 mio t or +4.8%), Ukraine 0.11 mio t (-2.3 mio t or -95.4%) and Poland 0.65 mio t (+0.6 mio t). Overland supplies to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan decreased to 1.6 mio t (-0.14 mio t or -8.1%).
The key coal exporters to Europe are such Kazakh companies as Shubarkol Komir, Shubarkol Premium, Karazhyra, Maikuben West and Saryarka Energy.
