Russian coal exports at record high

Russian coal deliveries by rail for export rose to a new record high in May, despite active phase of rail maintenance that started in April and intensified last month. Coal deliveries by rail for export increased by around 400,000t on the month and by 130,000t on the year, to 17.8mn t in May amid higher supplies through overland border crossings, which offset lower deliveries to ports.

But supplies may decrease this month amid a lack of available railcars for coal loading, repairs at large northwestern port and ban on deliveries through Ukrainian ports. Coal dispatches for exports have dropped in the first 12 days of June by around 3pc on the year, to around 578,000t/day, reflecting lower supplies to ports.