Russian coal supplies worsen on all export routes | The Coal Hub
Logistical issues with Russian coal deliveries to seaports are gaining momentum on all export routes, resulting in a shortage of material on the market that may cause an even greater deficit in the coming months. The supply disruptions are particularly acute at ports in the Baltic and the Far East.
In the North-West direction, repairs are underway on Oktyabrskaya railway, that, combined with snowfalls, led to congestion on the railway and a large number of abandoned trains. In January-November 2021, rail shipments to Rosterminalugol (RTU), the largest coal terminal on the
Baltic Sea, decreased by 1.9 mio t to 22.2 mio t (y-o-y, according to adjusted data). RTU’s coal stocks for the first time fell to a historic low of 25 thousand t, while the simultaneous storage capacity of the terminal amounts to 633 thousand t (see CAA Russian Coal Weekly dated December 10, 2021).
Daily temperatures in the region dropped to -200C, increasing difficulties with unloading railcars with frozen coal at ports and forcing Russian Railways (RZD) to impose railway bans on coal deliveries to certain terminals. Starting from December, ice restrictions are expected to be introduced on the Baltic Sea, that will cause additional delays in Russian coal supplies to international markets.
