Kazakhstan Secures EU Sanctions Exemption for Coal Exports Through Russian Ports

Kazakh officials announced on Tuesday that the European Union has authorized the country to export coal to the EU through Russian ports, notwithstanding the sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Kazakhstan, the European Union’s leading trade partner in Central Asia, possesses abundant natural resources, yet it is heavily dependent on Russian transportation networks for exporting its products due to its landlocked positioning.

In a statement, Kazakhstan’s Trade Ministry noted, «The European side has made amendments permitting an exception to the prohibition on dealings with specific Russian ports for the transit of Kazakh coal,» following the latest round of sanctions announced by Brussels against Moscow.

Back in March, the European Commission had already suggested that Kazakhstan, which is the EU’s fifth-largest coal supplier, might be eligible for such an exemption.

According to the European Commission, coal from Kazakhstan represented 6.5% of the EU’s coal imports in the first quarter of 2025.

Kazakh authorities clarified that the EU exemption would apply only if the coal is solely sourced from Kazakhstan, is not owned by sanctioned entities, and that Russian ports are used exclusively for transportation purposes.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the EU’s ban on Russian fossil fuel imports, Brussels has aimed to strengthen its relationship with Kazakhstan, especially in the energy domain.

Nevertheless, Kazakhstan continues to uphold strong political and economic relations with Russia, sharing a border that stretches 7,500 kilometers (approximately 4,700 miles).

Western nations have accused Kazakhstan of aiding Russia in circumventing sanctions by permitting the movement of restricted goods across its border, claims which officials in Astana reject.