Russia exported 12.5 mnt of coal to South Korea in the first half of 2026, an increase of 5.9 mnt, or 89.4%, year on year. Russia accounted for approximately 22% of South Korea’s coal imports and became its second-largest supplier after Australia. South Korea’s total coal imports rose by 21.3% to 56.9 mnt, with Russia contributing around 59% of the net increase.
Australian shipments to South Korea increased by 35.4% to 19.5 mnt, while Indonesian supplies declined by 2.5% to 11.9 mnt and Canadian deliveries rose by 33.3% to 5.6 mnt. Combined growth from Russia and Australia reached 11 mnt, exceeding the 10 mnt increase in South Korea’s total imports and offsetting lower shipments from Indonesia, Colombia and the United States.



