Coal switching accelerates in Asia as LNG markets tighten
April 14, 2026
In Q1 2026, Russian railway coal exports to China via border crossings fell to 3.0 mio t (-0.9 mio t or -22.6% vs. Q1 2025).
The decline was driven by a combination of weaker demand in Chinese northern provinces and persistent logistical bottlenecks on the Eastern Range.
Along with the price pressure and subdued demand, Russian suppliers faced reduced railway capacity on routes to border crossings with China in addition to Russian Railways’ (RZD) refusal to approve applications for cross-border shipments, filed by Russian mining companies, in the full amount.
The situation underscores a deeper, systemic issue: a long-standing shortage of rail transport capacity on the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) and Trans-Siberian Railway has led to exports being heavily dependent on the infrastructure of a rail monopoly, which still lags significantly behind market requirements.
Source: CCA
