Kazakhstan secures EU nod to export coal through Russian ports

Kazakhstan has received formal approval to resume coal exports to the European Union through Russian ports, following an exemption granted under specific conditions within the EU sanctions regime.

The announcement was made by the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, Caliber.Az reports.

The decision follows Kazakhstan’s official request to the European Commission to adjust the EU’s 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which previously restricted access to several major Russian ports. The exemption permits Kazakhstan to use Russian port infrastructure for the transit, loading, and dispatch of coal, provided three key conditions are met.

First, the coal must be of Kazakh origin. Second, ownership of the cargo must lie with entities that are not residents of nations subject to EU sanctions. Finally, the designated Russian ports are to serve solely as transit points, without engaging in further commercial or logistical operations involving sanctioned parties.

Among the Russian ports approved for use is Ust-Luga, located on the Baltic Sea, which has historically served as a strategic gateway for Kazakh coal exports to Europe. The Kazakh ministry emphasized the critical role Ust-Luga has played in ensuring the stability and continuity of coal supply routes to the EU.

“The exemption will enable Kazakhstan to maintain the regularity of coal exports to the European market and ensure the long-term viability of established logistics corridors,” the ministry stated.

According to official data, coal exports from Kazakhstan to the EU totaled 5.2 million tons in 2024, representing 51.8% of the country’s total coal exports for the year. In the first five months of 2025, shipments reached 1.6 million tons, accounting for 38.5% of overall coal exports.

The EU’s 16th sanctions package, adopted in February 2025, included restrictions on a number of Russian ports: Astrakhan and Makhachkala on the Caspian Sea, Ust-Luga and Primorsk on the Baltic Sea, and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. The package was part of the EU’s broader effort to curtail Russia’s logistical capabilities in response to its continued aggression in Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva