MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Exports of Russian coal to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region increased by 23% at the end of 2023, according to the presentation of First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin.

"Today, our coal industry occupies around 15% of the world coal market. Coal exports to friendly countries have increased by over 70% in two years - now their supplies reach 85%. We expect that coal consumption in the East will continue to grow, so we have the potential to increase exports by at least another third by 2030, this is our goal," Sorokin said.

It was reported earlier that coal production in Russia at the end of 2023 decreased by 1.1% to 438.7 mln tons against 443.6 mln tons a year earlier, while exports decreased by 3.9% to 212.5 mln tons. The Ministry of Energy forecasts that in 2024 the parameters of coal production and export will remain at last year’s levels.