Group 1 - The EU has officially banned the import of Russian coal since August 11, 2022, and will fully prohibit any cooperation agreements with Russian ports starting February 24, 2025, as part of the sanctions against Russia [1][3] - In 2021 and 2022, the EU's dependence on Russian coal was 53.6% and 46% respectively, with Poland and Germany being the most reliant [1] - The EU has decided to allow the transshipment of coal produced in Kazakhstan through Russian ports starting July 2025, while ensuring that the ownership of the goods does not belong to any sanctioned entities [3] Group 2 - Kazakhstan exported 1.6 million tons of coal to the EU in the first five months of 2025, 6.7 million tons in the first seven months, and 9.6 million tons in the first ten months, indicating a record increase in coal exports [5] - The volume of coal transshipped by Russia to Europe has significantly increased and is expected to reach or exceed recent historical highs [5] - Russia benefits from transportation service fees, including railway tariffs and port management fees, which are ultimately borne by European importers, despite the low coal prices in recent years [7]