Russian Coal Breaks Records: Anthracite Delivered to China in Bulk
05.05.2025
March of this year was marked by an unprecedented volume of anthracite supplies from Russia to China. According to information provided by the Price Index Center (PIC), the Chinese side purchased 1.9 million tons of high-quality fuel, which is an absolute maximum. Russian companies provided almost all of this supply.
Analysts note a 59% increase in anthracite imports year-on-year. At the same time, the coal industry is recording the opposite dynamics in other segments - purchases of thermal coal decreased by 9%, and metallurgical coal - by 3%.
PIC experts associate the increase in Russian anthracite supplies with two key factors. Firstly, there was a reorientation of the transportation routes for Novosibirsk coal – instead of southern ports, the products began to be sent through the Far East directly to China. Secondly, China reduced its purchases of coal products from the USA and Australia due to the aggravation of trade relations.
Statistics show that the total export of Russian coal to China in March reached 7.3 million tons. This is 16% more than in February and 6% higher than in the same period last year. In the first quarter of 2025, the Russian coal industry exported 46.4 million tons of products.
According to Russian Railways, 4.5 million tons of anthracite were transported via the railway network in January-March 2025. Most of this volume - 3.9 million tons - was intended for foreign consumers. The geography of deliveries has changed noticeably. Shipments in the eastern direction increased almost 6 times, while the north-western direction lost 39% of the volume.
The Russian coal industry demonstrates high adaptability to changing market conditions. Reorientation to Asian markets allows to compensate for losses in traditional European directions. Chinese consumers, in turn, find the best price-quality ratio in Russian anthracite.
Experts assume that the trend of increasing volumes of Russian coal supplies to China will continue. Logistic routes are gradually being optimized, and bilateral economic ties are strengthening.The coal industry is becoming one of the key elements of the Russian-Chinese trade partnership.
