Polish coal suppliers say they have blocked an important route ahead of winter

Supplies of Kazakh coal to Poland via Belarus may be delayed due to a temporary restriction of railway transportation through the station Krasnoe. This was reported by the Polish Chamber of Coal Sellers. According to her, the ban was introduced at the request of Russian Railways for the period from 8 to 17 October 2026, when Polish warehouses replenish supplies before the heating season.

The Chamber refers to the document that the Directorate of the Council for Railway Transport of the CIS states sent out on October 3. The restriction covers all categories of cargo and empty wagons passing through Krasnoe at the station of the Belarusian Railway, regardless of the recipient. There are no exceptions for coal.

At the same time, the organization said that it had a copy of the document, but received no official confirmation from the railway administrations. The reason for the restriction is not specified in the document.

Red is located on the Russian-Belarusian border, on the Moscow-Smolensk-Orsha-Minsk-Brest railway. Goods from Kazakhstan and Central Asia pass through this section, which then arrive in Poland.

Formally, the ban concerns shipments to Belarusian stations. It directly covers coal addressed to recipients in Brest, Bruzga and Svisloch for subsequent transshipment and delivery to Polish warehouses. Other crossings between Russia and Belarus have a lower capacity, and changing the route of the cargo already sent requires re-issuance of documents and coordination with carriers.

According to the Chamber, in the first half of 2026, Poland imported almost 1.9 million tons of Kazakh thermal coal with a total import volume of over 3 million tons. Kazakhstan has become the largest foreign supplier of this raw material. Some coal came by sea through the Russian Baltic ports, and some by rail through Belarus.

Industry officials warn that the effects of the restriction may persist after it is lifted. Accumulated trains will have to compete for throughput with new shipments. The ban on the movement of empty cars further complicates their return to Kazakhstan for the next loading.

The Chamber also recalls the disruptions of 2025, when the reception of Kazakh coal through the terminal in Ust-Luga was repeatedly suspended. Repeating or extending the restrictions creates additional risk for suppliers.

The situation is complicated by the reduction of stocks. According to Money.pl, citing data from the Polish Industrial Development Agency, in June 2026, 3.1 million tons of coal were in warehouses near the mines - 41% less than a year earlier. The industry chamber believes that delays in the period of preparation for winter can affect the availability of certain fuels from end customers.

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