【Ferro-alloys.com】: Ukraine's imports of thermal coal, including anthracite, increased by 172% year on year to about 1.81 million mt in 2024, the state customs service reported Jan. 15.

Ukraine imported 667,000 mt of coal in 2023, compared with 4.63 million mt imported in 2022 and 19.56 million mt in 2021. If measured by value, coal imports in 2024 soared by 117% to $402.2 million.

Ukraine imported coal primarily from Poland, totaling 403,800 mt, followed by the US, with 365,700 mt; Australia, with 345,400 mt; the Czech Republic, with 276,700 mt; Colombia, with 173,800 mt; and Kazakhstan, with 158,900 mt, according to the customs service.

Imports rose significantly as many domestic coal producers in eastern regions of the country reduced their output due to the advance of Russian troops, power shortages and a lack of workers.

The Ukrainian government suspended regular coal production updates ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Meanwhile, coal reserves in Ukraine increased to nearly 3 million mt as of early January, the highest level over the past 20 years, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 10.

"We have approximately 3 million mt of coal in our warehouses," Shmyhal said while addressing lawmakers in Parliament. "This is a historic figure, if not for the entire history, then for the last 20 years for sure."

Ukraine is going through the third winter of full-scale invasion by Russian forces. Ukraine was able to accumulate large coal reserves mostly due to the fact that Russia has destroyed many fossil fuel-burning power plants, weakening the immediate demand for coal.

However, demand for coal is expected to increase once Ukraine begins to rebuild its power plants with the help of Western partners. Some Eastern European countries, such as Lithuania, donated older coal-burning power-generating units to Ukraine in late 2024.

Platts-assessed CIF ARA 6,000 kcal/kg NAR coal prices averaged $112.08/mt in 2024, down from $129.34/mt in 2023 and $293.63/mt in 2022, S&P Global Commodity Insights data showed.

• [Editor:Alakay]