The Russian Ministry of Economic Development predicts a decline in coal production in 2020 by 10.5 percent compared to last year to 395 million tons, according to the forecasts for the social and economic development of the country for 2021 and the planned period of 2022 and 2023 presented by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

“The expected output in 2020 is estimated at 395 million tons (a decrease of 10.5 percent),” the document says.

The decline in production is related to low global coal prices and the continuation of the trend of falling purchasing volumes by a number of key consumers in the European market, the Ministry said.

According to the Central Transhipment Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex, Russian coal production fell by 9.2 percent year-on-year from January to August 2020 to 259.1 million tons.