At the same time, coal exports from Russia fell 7.9% to 196.2 million tons. China remains the main market for Russian coal, despite the European embargo and the redirection of exports to the Asia-Pacific region.
China, the world's largest coal importer, reduced its purchases of Russian coal in 2024 while increasing imports from other major suppliers, primarily Australia. Indonesia, the largest coal supplier to China, saw an 8% increase in imports to 236.99 million tons.
Despite remaining the second largest supplier of coal to China, Russia was the only major producer whose coal exports declined in 2024, falling 7% from 2023 to 93.86 million tons.
China, India, Türkiye, Belarus, and Kazakhstan remained Russia's top five trading partners in 2024, according to Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Illichyov.