The coal crisis has been going on for more than a year

Alexander Titov, senior expert at the Energy Department of the Institute for Energy and Finance, commented to Kommersant on the situation in the coal industry in 2025.

"There are no opportunities to overcome the crisis yet. The escalation of the trade war, if sustained, will only worsen the situation of exporters, because a slowdown in the economy will reduce demand for imported coal," Alexander Titov fears.

At such prices, not only Russian but also global coal producers are showing losses and announcing production cuts. For example, at the end of March, Glencore's subsidiary announced plans to reduce production at the Cerrejon field in Colombia by 5-10 million tons, to 11-16 million tons per year. Indonesia reduced exports to a two-year low in March, showing a decrease of 14% compared to last year, the expert recalls.

Potentially hot and dry weather in Asia may give hope to coal exporters in the coming months, which will increase demand for thermal coal and reduce production at hydroelectric power plants, Alexander Titov admits.

"Although I see only opportunities to somehow replace coal from the United States as an opportunity to expand export niches for Russian coal miners due to duties. Especially if it is possible to agree on the abolition of duties from the PRC on the supply of Russian coal," Mr. Titov reflects.