Kuzbass coal production down 4.5% in Q1, exports up 3.9%

KEMEROVO. April 18 (Interfax) - Kemerovo region, home to the coal-rich Kuznetsk coal basin or Kuzbass, mined 50.4 million tonnes of coal in January-March 2025, down 4.5% year-on-year, the region's Coal Industry Ministry said on its Telegram channel.

Coal exports increased 3.9% or by 1 million tonnes to 27.3 million tonnes in Q1, of which 14.8 million tonnes was shipped towards the east in accordance with the volumes stated in the agreement between Kuzbass and Russian Railways.

"We have met the target for Q1 2025," the ministry said.

The Kuzbass authorities expressed concerns in the middle of March that the amount of coal transported eastwards from the region by Russian Railways was 2% short of the target.

The Coal Industry Ministry said that coal exports to the north west in January-March 2025 had fallen by 10.2% or 0.9 million tonnes to 7.9 million tonnes, while exports to the south increased by 78% or 1.8 million tonnes to 4.1 million tonnes.

Overall, 44.4 million tonnes of coal was transported to consumers by rail in the first quarter, a decrease of 1.2 million tonnes.

The average number of people employed by coal mining and processing enterprises remains as reported in mid-March, at 90,300. According to data from the regional coal ministry, 91,300 people were reported to be working in the industry in mid-February, 96,300 in mid-January and 96,400 in mid-December last year.