In January-July 2022, Kazakhstan boosted its coal exports to Europe to an all-time high of 6.4 mio t (+2.0 mio t or +45% y-o-y). At the same time, supplies to European countries for the whole of 2021 totaled 5.2 mio t (+1.6 mio t or +44% 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 seem to be 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 16 April 2022 also contributed to the growth of Kazakh coal exports.
The key coal exporters to the EU are such Kazakh companies as Shubarkol Komir, Shubarkol Premium, Karazhyra, Maikuben West and Saryarka Energy.
Over the seven months of 2022, coal production in Kazakhstan rose to 66.4 mio t (+3.6 mio t or +5.7% y-o-y).
