Exports of Russian coal to countries in Southeast Asia surged last year after supplies to the EU stopped amid Western sanctions on Moscow, Vedomosti business daily reported on Monday, citing data from energy analytics firm Kpler.

South East Asia-bound deliveries of Russian coal, excluding China, jumped by 47% in 2023 and reached 13.1 million tonnes, the outlet said.

Countries that ramped up Russian coal imports included Sri Lanka, which boosted purchases by 4.5 times to 1.6 million tonnes. 

Vietnam nearly doubled imports to 3.9 million tonnes, Malaysia, by 18% to 3.8 million tonnes, and Indonesia, by 1.7 times to 3.4 million tonnes. 

Deliveries to Myanmar increased by 10%, reaching 41,000 tonnes last year, while Bangladesh bought 48,000 tonnes of coal from Russia, data shows.

Meanwhile, Beijing, currently Moscow’s largest Asian trade partner, has imported 40% of all Russian coal exports since 2022, followed by India (20%) and South Korea (13%), data shows.

According to Chinese customs data, coal imports in December hit a record high of 47.3 million tonnes following the third-highest volume seen in November, sending total imports in 2023 to an all-time high.

According to Kpler’s preliminary estimates, exports of Russian coal to China totalled 104 million tonnes last year, representing a nearly 43% increase year-on-year as the two countries deepen energy cooperation.

The boost in Russian coal exports to Asian markets comes as Moscow has diverted its trade flow following the EU’s import ban on the country’s coal imposed in December 2022.

Source: RT