Russia may already be exporting Ukrainian coal on the INSTC

The Russian mining company “Don Coal” is planning to export coal from occupied Ukrainian territories in October. The coal is reportedly destined for countries such as Iran, India, Uzbekistan, China and Malaysia. Whereas part of the coal is supposed to be shipped over sea, the International North – South Transport Corridor (INSTC) will likely also be used to export it.

The railway through Azerbaijan and into Iran is specifically mentioned by Russian media as an alternative route to Black Sea transport. Nevertheless, Russia also plans to ship Ukrainian coal through the port of occupied Mariupol, as well as through its own ports in Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog.

Don Coal is specifically avoiding transporting coal along Russia’s Far Eastern railways, where Russian Railways is already failing to meet transport demand from Siberian coal mines. It seems likely that Don Coal will be sending Ukrainian coal south to Iran’s Indian Ocean ports for further transport to India, China and Malaysia.

More in the future

Occupational authorities started renting out the mines to Don Coal in February 2024. The company is planning to invest nearly three billion rubles in the mines and grow its output fivefold – to five million tonnes annually by 2025. This coal could also be heading down the INSTC in the near future.