**Russia’s Coal Exports to China Plummet**
China is now buying more coal from Australia and Mongolia, rather than Russia. This shift in supply has dealt a significant blow to the Russian coal industry.
Russian coal imports have decreased despite a 14% rise in Chinese demand for coal last year. In contrast, Mongolian and Australian coal exports have increased by 18% and 60%, respectively.
The Russian coal industry was already facing big losses before this change. The Energy Ministry‘s analytical center had warned that the industry was struggling due to Western sanctions, a lack of transport links to China, and tariffs on Russian coal.
Despite closer economic ties between Moscow and Beijing, these obstacles have become too great for Russia’s coal exports to overcome.