Russian coal exports to Egypt rise 2.6-fold as US market share falls
Russia shipped 1.3 million tonnes of coal to Egypt in the first half of 2026, 2.6 times the volume recorded a year earlier. Russia’s share of Egyptian coal imports rose to 46%, while the US share fell to 50%.
Russia approaches US volumes in Egypt
Russian coal exports to Egypt reached 1.3 million tonnes in January–June 2026, increasing 2.6-fold from the same period of 2025, according to an Argus review seen by Vedomosti. The expansion lifted Russia’s share of Egyptian coal imports from 21% to 46% in one year, bringing Russian suppliers close to the position held by the United States.
US shipments moved in the opposite direction. Argus data cited by Vedomosti showed that American coal deliveries declined by 24% to 1.4 million tonnes during the first half. The US share of Egypt’s imports consequently fell from 75% to 50%. Total Egyptian coal imports still increased by 14% to 2.7 million tonnes, indicating that Russia gained business both from overall demand growth and at the expense of competing suppliers.
Discounts support sales and margins
Price competitiveness was a central factor in the change. TKS, citing Alfa-Bank investment and industry analysis head Boris Krasnozhenov, reported that Russian coal was trading at a discount of about 25% to international benchmarks. These discounts allow Russian exporters to compete with suppliers from the United States and South Africa in the Egyptian market.
Argus analysts said Russian companies were offering Egyptian buyers more attractive prices while earning higher profits than on shipments to Turkey. That combination makes Egypt a commercially useful outlet: buyers obtain discounted fuel, while suppliers can achieve better returns than in another major regional destination.
Demand is also being supported by Egypt’s energy-intensive cement industry. Higher consumption in this sector has created an additional sales channel for exporters. Egypt became one of the fastest-growing markets for Russian coal companies in the first half of 2026, although African demand remains much smaller than demand in Asia.
Shipments build on several years of growth
Russian coal flows to Egypt had already been rising before the latest acceleration. Kpler data cited by TKS put shipments at about 435,000 tonnes in 2021, 591,000 tonnes in 2022 and 739,000 tonnes in 2023. Exports then reached 929,000 tonnes in 2024 and 1.6 million tonnes in 2025, making Egypt one of the ten largest buyers of Russian coal.
Most Russian coal bound for Egypt is shipped through ports in northwestern Russia, particularly Ust-Luga, while smaller cargoes depart from Black Sea ports. Experts surveyed by Vedomosti expect full-year 2026 exports to reach 2.4–3 million tonnes. They also warned that growth could slow in the second half because of shipping difficulties in the Black Sea.
Russia is gaining ground elsewhere in Africa as well. Its coal exports to Senegal quadrupled to 440,000 tonnes in the first half, while South African deliveries fell by 23% to 320,000 tonnes. Senegal’s total imports rose by 20% to 910,000 tonnes, and Russia’s share increased from 15% to 48%. The figures show that North and West Africa are becoming additional outlets for Russian exporters as traditional trade routes change, but regional growth is constrained by the relatively small number of coal-fired power plants.