Global seaborne thermal coal exports in 2025 fell for the first time since 2020, by 5% to a three-year low of 945 million tons, Reuters reports, citing data from Kpler.
The main reason for the decline was a reduction in imports by Asian countries.
Since the beginning of the year, they have imported 841 million tons of thermal coal, which is 7% less than the figure for the whole of 2024.
China was the largest importer (305 million tons), followed by India (157 million tons), Japan (100 million tons), South Korea (76 million tons), and Vietnam (45 million tons).
At the same time, only South Korea and Vietnam increased their volumes. China reduced imports by 12%, India by 3%, which in both cases is explained by an increase in domestic coal production and consumption of other energy sources.
In January-November 2025, Ukraine increased imports of coal and anthracite (UKTZED code 2701) by 2.4 times (by 2 million 415.314 thousand tons) compared to the same period last year, to 4 million 134.636 thousand tons.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, coal imports amounted to $929.485 million in the first eleven months of this year, which is 2.4 times ($546.653 million) more than in January-November 2024.
Coal imports from the US amounted to $374.498 million (40.29%), Australia – $281.793 million (30.32%), Poland – $90.872 million (9.78%), and other countries – $182.322 million (19.62%).
As reported, Ukraine increased coal imports by 2.7 times (by 1 million 145,951 thousand tons) in 2024 compared to 2023, to 1 million 812,592 thousand tons. In monetary terms, it imported $402.219 million worth of coal, which is 2.2 times more than the previous year ($185.378 million).
Ukraine increased its imports of hard coal and anthracite (UKTZED code 2701) by 2.2 times (by 1 million 760.155 thousand tons) compared to the same period last year, to 3 million 253.62 thousand tons.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, coal imports amounted to $751.081 million in the first nine months of this year, which is 2.3 times ($426.588 million) more than in January-September 2024.
Coal imports from the US amounted to $308.091 million (41.02%), Australia – $233.507 million (31.09%), the Czech Republic – $72.3 million (9.63%), and other countries – $137.183 million (18.26%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased coal imports by 2.7 times (by 1 million 145,951 thousand tons) compared to 2023, to 1 million 812,592 thousand tons. In monetary terms, it imported $402.219 million worth of coal, which is 2.2 times more than the previous year ($185.378 million).
Coal Energy S.A. (Luxembourg), a coal company with its main assets in Ukraine, which are currently under Russian occupation, signed a letter of intent with Polish mining company Siltech in mid-April to lease its real estate and infrastructure for coal mining in Poland.
“The main purpose of this letter of intent is to advance Coal Energy’s plan to apply for a license to extract coal from deposits adjacent to those owned by Siltech,” Coal Energy said in a stock exchange announcement.
It is noted that the lease is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025, after Coal Energy obtains all necessary permits to commence coal mining from the licensed deposits.
Coal Energy is expected to mine coal using Siltech’s existing mining infrastructure. This approach will reduce the time needed to start coal mining and eliminate the need for Coal Energy to invest in the construction of a new mining facility.
Coal Energy shares have been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since August 8, 2011. Its main activity was coal mining at two underground mines and working with coal dumps in the Donetsk region. According to the company, due to Russia’s aggression, it currently has no coal assets in Ukraine.
In recent years, the company has had virtually no operating activities. According to the latest report on Coal Energy’s website, its total assets at the end of September 2023 amounted to $9.7 million, while its liabilities amounted to $11.6 million and its capital was negative at $1.9 million.
At the end of 2023, the company acquired Ukrmineral Trading LLC with the aim of obtaining licenses for the extraction of minerals in Ukraine, as well as Advanced Industrial Technologies Sp. z.o.o. with the aim of providing underground mining services to coal mines in Poland. In addition, in early 2024, Coal Energy registered a new company, Greentech Solutions Sp. z.o.o., for the reclamation and processing of industrial waste dumps and mine tailings, as well as the reclamation of land destroyed by human activity.
The founder, chairman of the board of directors, and CEO is Viktor Vyshnevsky.
Ukraine in 2024 increased imports of coal and anthracite (HS code 2701) in 2.7 times (by 1 million 145.951 thousand tons) compared to 2023 – up to 1 million 812.592 thousand tons.
According to the State Customs Service, coal was imported for $402.219 million, which is 2.2 times more than in 2023 ($185.378 million).
From the United States came coal worth $98.868 million (share – 24.58%), Australia – $97.794 million (24.31%), Czech Republic – $69.527 million (17.29%), other countries – $136.03 million (33.82%).
Ukraine’s coal exports in 2024 decreased 1.7 times (by 273.353 thousand tons) – to 397.324 thousand tons, in value terms it fell 4.7 times (by $136.325 million) – to $36.366 million,
Including coal shipped to Swedish counterparties for $14.776 mln, to Indian counterparties for $10.421 mln, to Italian counterparties for $5.487 mln, and to others for $5.682 mln.
As reported, Ukraine in 2022 reduced imports of coal and anthracite in 4.2 times (by 14 million 932.904 thousand tons) compared to 2021 – to 4 million 630.144 thousand tons. Coal was imported for $1 billion 179.113 million, which is 2.1 times less than in 2021 ($2 billion 488.698 million).
“DTEK Energy commissioned 16 new longwalls in January-September 2024, the company’s press service said on Friday.
According to the press service, the company’s miners plan to commission nine more longwalls by the end of the year.
“This allows us to meet the fuel needs of thermal power plants at the peak of electricity consumption, accumulate the necessary coal reserves for the autumn-winter period and maintain the reliability of the Ukrainian power system,” the statement said.
In total, since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, DTEK Energy has invested almost UAH 18 billion of its own funds in Ukrainian coal mining.
The investments were directed to the construction and repair of capital mine workings, completion of coal longwalls, equipping mines with tunneling equipment, underground mine transport and projects to maintain production facilities.
As reported, in 2023, DTEK Energy commissioned 26 new longwalls.
In 2023, the energy holding’s investments in Ukrainian coal mining amounted to about UAH 7 billion, which is almost twice as much as in 2022.
“DTEK Energy ensures a closed cycle of electricity production from coal. In particular, the company has established a full production cycle in coal mining: coal mining and enrichment, machine building and maintenance of mine equipment.
