In January 2021, Ukraine’s coal imports surged to 1.80 mio t (+0.18 mio t or +10% y-o-y). Ukraine received 1.30 mio t or 72% of its coal imports from Russia, 0.30 mio t or 16.5% from the US, 0.16 mio t or 9% from Kazakhstan, while other countries supplied the remaining 2.5%.
Decrease in coal import volumes throughout 2020 resulted in low level of Ukraine’s coal reserves amid ongoing heating season in the country.
In 2020, coal imports of Ukraine dropped to 16.9 mio t (-4.1 mio t or -19.5% to 2019). Stronger coal consumption in January 2021 has decreased coal stocks in the country to 0.30 mio t by February 01, 2021 (-0.30 mio t or -50% m-o-m).
The representatives of Ukrainian ministry of energy point out that the country needs to ramp-up coal imports to maintain stable power supply. Nevertheless, given shortage of material at local coal-fired power plants, Ukrainian government is forced to reduce coal generating capacities, which cannot be maintained and provided with a minimum load. Last week two coal-fired power plants were closed.
On December 16, 2020, Ukraine prolonged 65% duty on coal imports from Russia until the end of 2021. The duty was not imposed on imports of anthracite and coking coal, the two types of coal that Ukraine facing shortage.
Source: CAA Analytics
[tfws username=”CAA_Analytics” height=”700″ width=”350″ theme=”light” color=”#FAB81E” tweets=”2″ header=”yes” footer=”yes” borders=”yes” scrollbar=”yes” background=”yes”]
