Siberia sees first increase in coal output in 18 months as rail shipments grow

KEMEROVO. March 13 (Interfax) - Coal production in Siberia rose year-on-year for the first time in 18 months in December 2024-January 2025, increasing by 4.5%, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) said in its March report on the regional economy.

The growth was driven by thermal coal. Mining of metallurgical coal continued to fall amid the slump in domestic steel production and, consequently, demand for coking coal.

"The increase in coal production is related to the growth of coal loading on the railway - the effect of measures to regulate the fleet of empty railcars. Siberian representatives of the coal business reported growth of exports and shipments to the domestic market, primarily to Russian power companies," the report said.

Coal exports from Russia's largest coal mining region, the Kuznetsk Basin (Kuzbass), rose for the first time in two years in December-January, increasing by 9% year-on-year.

Kuzbass is the only Russian region that retained its guaranteed quota for coal exports eastward in 2025 (at the 2024 level). Other coal regions in Siberia have been exporting coal eastward under the general rules of non-discriminatory access to railways for all types of freight (second to last category of priority) since January 1, 2025.

"Despite this, the Republic of Khakassia, Novosibirsk Region and Transbaikal Territory also increased export volumes in January. Irkutsk Region, and the republics of Buryatia and Khakassia increased shipments to Russian customers," the report said.