Ukraine reduces forex spending on coal imports in seven months

Ukraine reduced forex spending on imports of coal and anthracite in January-July 2020 by 31.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), to US$1.09 billion.

This was reported by Ukraine's State Customs Service on its website.

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Coal imports to Ukraine

According to customs data, Ukraine imported 10.3 million tonnes of coal over the period under review (11.6 million tonnes in the same period of 2019). The largest suppliers in 2020 were Russia, the United States, and Kazakhstan.

Coal suppliers

Coal imports from Russia in monetary terms in the seven months of 2020 amounted to US$660.9 million (60.2%), shipments from the United States were estimated at US$334.1 million (30.4%). Kazakhstan sold Ukraine coal for US$67.24 million (6%). Coal worth US$36.6 million was imported from other countries.

Coal statistics in 2019

Ukraine in 2019 reduced spending on imported coal and anthracite by 7.2%, to US$2.816 billion from US$3.035 billion in 2018.

Reference information

• Ukraine started facing an acute shortage of coal since the summer of 2014 as a result of hostilities in the east of the country. It completely lost control over some areas in Donbas where most of coal mines are located. After that, the country started importing coal.
• In April 2019, Russia restricted exports of products of its fuel and energy complex to Ukraine. Starting from June 1, 2019, coal, oil, and petroleum products could only be exported to Ukraine based on special permits issued by Russia's relevant agency.
• The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on May 1, 2020, imposed a special duty at 65% on imports of coal, except for anthracite and coking coal, from Russia.