Kuzbass coal production falls 2.6% in Jan-Jul 2026

Kuzbass coal production continued to decline in Jan-Jul 2026 as Russian miners faced rising costs, sanctions pressure and growing export disruption.

Under the Ministry of Coal Industry of Kuzbass, in January-July 2026, coal mining enterprises in Kuzbass produced 107.4 mio t (-2.9 mio t or -2.6% vs. Jan-Jul 2025).

Export supplies from Kuzbass in January-July 2026 totaled 64.2 mio t (+5.0 mio t or +8.4% vs. Jan-Jul 2025).

Nevertheless, July exports dropped 3.2% m-o-m to 9.2 mio t. The main reason was the refusal of foreign shipowners to call at ports in the Azov–Black Sea basin, following attacks by Ukrainian drones on civilian merchant vessels. The downturn is expected to deepen in the coming months as no stabilization is in sight, that has already pushed up global coal prices.

The share of unprofitable companies in Kuzbass reached 63%, compared to 61% a year earlier. 62 enterprises remain in the red zone, of which 20 have already stopped mining, while the rest are on the verge of halting operations.

The crisis in the coal industry, on the back of sanctions, high railway tariffs, firming ruble as well as rising costs and logistical constraints, will further adversely affect the production and supplies of high-quality Russian coal to the global market in 2026.

Source: CCA