The European Commission (EC) on April 5 proposed a ban on coal imports from Russia worth 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) a year in the fifth package of sanctions against this country.

Sanctions could have an impact on Asian countries dependent on Russian oil, gas and coal.

Below is the degree of dependence of Asian countries on the Russian energy sector:

CHINA

China accounts for 15.4 percent of Russia’s total crude oil exports, second only to imports from Saudi Arabia.

China is the world’s top importer of Russian crude, buying an average of 1.59 million barrels per day (bpd) last year, or 15.5% of total imports, data from the General Administration of Customs This country shows.

Of the total volume of oil imported from Russia into China, 40% goes through the East Siberian Pacific (ESPO) pipeline – 4,070 km (2,540 mi) long.

To date, China maintains a strong commercial relationship with Russia, and continues to rely heavily on Russia for its energy security.

Russia is also China’s third largest gas supplier. China accounts for 6.7% of Russia’s natural gas exports in 2021. Russia’s exports to China total 16.5 billion cubic meters (bcm), or about 12.07 million tons, in 2021. , which meets about 5% of China’s demand.

Russia is also China’s No. 2 coal supplier in 2021. Reuters calculations based on customs data show that China’s coal imports from Russia were 56.7 million tons last year, accounting for 17, 6% of the country’s total coal imports.

Russia supplies 96% of anthracite coal to China in 2021 and accounts for 20% of China’s coking coal imports, customs data shows. About 14% of China’s thermal coal imports will come from Russia in 2021.

KOREA

Russia will be South Korea’s fourth-largest crude oil supplier in 2021 after Saudi Arabia, the United States and Kuwait. South Korea imported about 7.92 million tons of crude oil from Russia last year, worth about $4.27 billion, data from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) shows.

KITA data also shows that South Korea imported 2.87 million tons of gas from Russia last year, making it the country’s sixth-largest supplier.

Russia is the second largest coal exporter to South Korea in 2021 after Australia, with 21.95 million tons worth about $2.56 billion and accounting for 17.5% of Korea’s total coal imports.

South Korea imported $2.2 billion worth of bituminous coal from Russia in 2021, according to KITA data.

The country also imports $363 million worth of anthracite coal from Russia in 2021, accounting for 41 percent of imports, second only to 53 percent from Australia.

JAPAN

Russia is Japan’s second-biggest supplier of thermal coal in 2021, accounting for 12.48% of the country’s thermal coal imports, Japanese customs data shows.

In 2021, Russia accounts for 11% of Japan’s total coal imports, at 183 million tons. Government data shows that Russia also accounts for 8% of Japan’s total coking coal imports.

Russia is Japan’s fifth-largest supplier of crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2021, accounting for 3.63% and 8.84% of total imports, respectively.

Japan accounts for 4.1% of Russia’s crude oil exports and 7.2% of Russia’s natural gas exports.

Russia is an important supplier of oil, gas and coal to many Asian markets.

VIETNAM

According to Reuters sources, Russia is the third largest coal exporter to Vietnam in 2021, after Australia and Indonesia. Russia’s coal exports to Vietnam total 3.59 million tons in 2021, accounting for 9.9% of Vietnam’s total coal imports.

Vietnam will not import crude oil from Russia in 2021.

INDIA

Russia is the sixth largest supplier of thermal coal to India.

Data from Iman Resources shows that India imported 1.8 million tonnes of thermal coal from Russia in 2021, down from 2.5 million in 2020.

Russia’s share of India’s thermal coal imports will fall from 1.6% to 1.3% in 2021.

India accounts for about 0.2% of Russia’s natural gas exports. GAIL (India) Ltd has a 20-year agreement with Gazprom to purchase 2.5 million tons of LNG per year starting in 2018.

India will import 43,400 bpd of crude oil from Russia in 2021, about 1% of its total imports.

India is one of the world’s top oil importers and is among the few countries that continue to import Russian crude despite international sanctions and pressure on Moscow.

Reuters reports that India has bought at least 13 million barrels of oil from Russia since it launched its military operation in Ukraine while only buying about 16 million barrels of oil from Russia for the whole of 2021. Speaking on CNBC, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the country will continue to buy oil at promotional prices from Russia.

Reference: Reuters

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