Russian coal infrastructure: challenges in 2017 and beyond

Rapid growth of Russian coal exports in recent years has put a strain on the country's rail and port infrastructure. This is particularly the case for shipments to the Asian markets, which more than doubled between 2011-2016, and continue growing. The expansion of the two main routes in the eastern part of the country (BAM and Transsiberian) is underway and its success is crucial for enabling the continued growth of Russian coal exports to Asia. In this slidepack we discuss the key challenges facing Russian coal exporters and infrastructure providers, serving both European and Asian export routes, which were highlighted during our analyst's research trip to Russia in July 2017.