M
MercyNews
Home
Back
Russian Electricity Exports Fall Sharply
Economics

Russian Electricity Exports Fall Sharply

Russian electricity exports are declining, with shipments to China falling over 63% in eleven months. Kazakhstan has become the largest importer, accounting for 60% of supplies.

KommersantDec 26
3 min read
📋

Quick Summary

  • 1Export volumes of electricity from Russia are continuing to decrease, with a significant drop recorded in shipments to China.
  • 2Over a period of eleven months, these exports fell by more than 63%.
  • 3In contrast, Kazakhstan has solidified its position as the primary destination for Russian energy exports, now accounting for approximately 60% of the total supply volume.The Russian export operator, Интер РАО, anticipates that this downward trend will continue, expecting only a slight decrease in overall volumes moving forward.
  • 4Experts predict that the export market will not recover in the coming year.

Contents

Decline in Chinese ImportsKazakhstan's Rising DominanceOperator Outlook and Future Projections

Quick Summary#

Export volumes of electricity from Russia are continuing to decrease, with a significant drop recorded in shipments to China. Over a period of eleven months, these exports fell by more than 63%. In contrast, Kazakhstan has solidified its position as the primary destination for Russian energy exports, now accounting for approximately 60% of the total supply volume.

The Russian export operator, Интер РАО, anticipates that this downward trend will continue, expecting only a slight decrease in overall volumes moving forward. Experts predict that the export market will not recover in the coming year. Instead, the main markets are expected to remain Kazakhstan and other nations within the Central Asia region, shifting focus away from previous major partners.

Decline in Chinese Imports#

Exports of electricity from Russia have seen a sharp reduction in volume, specifically regarding shipments destined for China. Data indicates that over the course of eleven months, the volume of electricity supplied to the Chinese market dropped by more than 63%. This represents a substantial shift in the energy trade dynamics between the two nations.

This decline is a key factor in the overall reduction of Russian electricity exports. The decrease suggests a changing demand or logistical shift in the energy relationship between Russia and its eastern neighbor.

Kazakhstan's Rising Dominance 📉#

While exports to China have plummeted, Kazakhstan has emerged as the dominant importer of Russian electricity. The country has secured the status of the largest importer, with its share of the total supply reaching up to 60%. This highlights a pivot in export strategy towards Central Asian markets.

The reliance on the Kazakhstani market has increased significantly. The breakdown of export distribution now looks like this:

  • Kazakhstan accounts for up to 60% of total supplies.
  • Other countries in Central Asia make up the remaining significant portion.
  • China has seen a drastic reduction in import volume.

Operator Outlook and Future Projections#

The Russian operator responsible for these exports, Интер РАО, has released expectations for the near future. The company anticipates that the total volume of electricity exports will continue to fall, albeit at a slight pace. This suggests that the current downward trend is expected to persist rather than stabilize immediately.

Looking further ahead, energy experts are forecasting that the export sector will not experience a recovery in the upcoming year. The primary markets for Russian electricity are projected to remain centered on Kazakhstan and other countries in the Central Asia region, rather than expanding back into previous markets or seeing a resurgence in volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exports to China have fallen by more than 63% over an eleven-month period.

Kazakhstan has secured the status of the largest importer, accounting for up to 60% of supplies.

Experts predict that exports will not recover and will remain focused on Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

#Бизнес

Continue scrolling for more

French Over-Indebtedness Surges 10% in 2025
Economics

French Over-Indebtedness Surges 10% in 2025

New data reveals a sharp 10% rise in over-indebtedness cases across France last year, a surge that caught financial regulators off guard. As household budgets tighten, the implications for the French economy are significant.

5h
3 min
6
Read Article
JPMorgan CEO's AI Spending Defense: 'Trust Me'
Economics

JPMorgan CEO's AI Spending Defense: 'Trust Me'

Jamie Dimon's 'Trust me' response to AI spending questions reveals Wall Street's FOMO-driven investment strategy. As JPMorgan faces scrutiny over $9.7B expense increases, the bank also navigates potential credit card rate caps that could reshape its business model.

5h
5 min
2
Read Article
Follow This Targets Big Oil's Financial Risks
Economics

Follow This Targets Big Oil's Financial Risks

In a significant strategic pivot, the Dutch activist investment group Follow This has announced a new focus for its 2026 campaign against major oil corporations. The group will now emphasize the financial risks associated with declining fossil fuel demand.

5h
5 min
6
Read Article
Bankinter Backs Bit2Me in $35M Crypto Deal
Cryptocurrency

Bankinter Backs Bit2Me in $35M Crypto Deal

A major Spanish bank has officially entered the digital asset space. Bankinter's new investment in Bit2Me signals a powerful shift in institutional crypto adoption across Europe.

5h
5 min
6
Read Article
Supreme Court Ruling Could Reshape U.S. Freight Trade
Politics

Supreme Court Ruling Could Reshape U.S. Freight Trade

A looming Supreme Court decision on President Trump's IEEPA tariffs could trigger a significant shift in U.S. freight shipping, with logistics experts forecasting a potential boom in container trade if the levies are struck down.

5h
5 min
0
Read Article
Zhipu AI Breaks US Chip Reliance with Huawei Stack
Technology

Zhipu AI Breaks US Chip Reliance with Huawei Stack

A Beijing-based AI firm has successfully trained a powerful open-source image generation model using Huawei chips, proving the feasibility of a domestic tech stack independent of US semiconductors.

5h
5 min
0
Read Article
Coverage Cat Seeks Fractional Operations Specialist
Technology

Coverage Cat Seeks Fractional Operations Specialist

Coverage Cat (YC S22) is expanding its team with a specialized fractional operations role. The move highlights a growing trend among startups for flexible, high-level talent.

5h
3 min
0
Read Article
Mortgage Refinance Demand Surges 40% After Rate Drop
Economics

Mortgage Refinance Demand Surges 40% After Rate Drop

A sudden drop in mortgage rates at the end of last week triggered a massive 40% spike in refinancing applications, signaling a sharp shift in borrower activity.

5h
5 min
0
Read Article
Le populisme radical de Donald Trump commence à sérieusement inquiéter le patronat américain
Politics

Le populisme radical de Donald Trump commence à sérieusement inquiéter le patronat américain

RÉCIT - Après avoir misé sur la dérégulation et les baisses d’impôts massives, le président choisit désormais l’interventionnisme pour répondre à la colère de sa population concernant le pouvoir d’achat.

5h
3 min
0
Read Article
Elon Musk wants to dominate the in-flight internet market. Here are all the airlines that now offer Starlink WiFi.
Technology

Elon Musk wants to dominate the in-flight internet market. Here are all the airlines that now offer Starlink WiFi.

British Airways announced a deal with Starlink in November. Courtesy of British Airways Lufthansa is the latest airline to sign up for Elon Musk's Starlink WiFi. 31 carriers have announced deals for the ultra-high-speed internet. It's already available on some airlines — here's the full list. Elon Musk's Starlink has gained yet another airline customer as the ultra-high-speed WiFi service continues to gain popularity. The Lufthansa Group announced in January that it's installing Starlink and expects to start offering it in the second half of this year. The company is named for the German flag carrier, but it also owns several more airlines across Europe, including national carriers for Austria, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. Lufthansa has a fleet of around 850 aircraft across all its airlines, and its announcement means more than 30 airlines are now set to have Starlink. Business Insider previously tested Starlink on Qatar Airways' first flight with it last October. The connection speed peaked at 215 megabits per second, more than enough for a lag-free video call, and faster than many cable-based internet services. Starlink functions thanks to a constellation of over 7,000 satellites, which allows internet connections in remote locations, such as flying over an ocean. The satellites are in low-earth orbit, which means faster internet speeds — but also disrupts astronomers. Starlink isn't the only game in town, however. JetBlue has signed up for Amazon Leo, which functions similarly, but has only launched 150 satellites so far. Another in-flight WiFi rival is Viasat, which is used by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. It only has a handful of satellites in a geostationary orbit, which have a longer time delay. While it has rivals, Starlink wants to cement its dominance. As Starlink grows in popularity, it could be that more carriers sign up to Starlink to keep up with competitors. All airlines with Starlink offer it free of charge, although some require passengers to sign up for their loyalty programs. As of Lufthansa's announcement, here are all the airlines that have publicly announced plans to launch Starlink: Aer Lingus An Aer Lingus Airbus A330. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty The Irish flag carrier is part of International Airlines Group, which announced its Starlink deal in early November. It's set to roll out Starlink from early 2026, but plans are still being finalized across the conglomerate. Air Baltic An Air Baltic Airbus A220. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Latvia's airBaltic flies around Europe and the Middle East only using Airbus A220 jets. It was the first European airline to adopt Starlink, and hopes to complete installation on all its planes by the end of the year. Air Busan An Air Busan Airbus A321. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Air Busan is a budget carrier and a subsidiary of Korean Air, which announced in December that it's adding Starlink. While the legacy carrier has clearer plans for its wide-body jets, Korean said Air Busan will review which planes to prioritize. "Rollout schedules will vary by carrier, with the earliest service introduction expected as early as the third quarter of 2026," it added. Air Dolomiti An Air Dolomiti Embraer 190. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Air Dolomiti is a regional airline that only operates Embraer jets and focuses on connecting Italian destinations with other cities around Europe. It's a subsidiary of Lufthansa, which announced its deal with Starlink in January. Introduction is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with all Lufthansa Group planes equipped with Starlink by 2029. The company said access would be free for all status customers and Travel ID users. Air France An Air France Boeing 777. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images The French flag carrier announced its Starlink deal last September, available to Flying Blue loyalty members. Installation began across its fleet, including regional planes, this summer. Air New Zealand An Air New Zealand flight arrives at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia. Bai Xuefei/Xinhua via Getty Images Air New Zealand first said it was working with Starlink two years ago. It then rolled it out on two domestic aircraft in June, saying that it was "currently in the test phase." Air Seoul An Air Seoul Airbus A321. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Air Seoul is a budget carrier and another subsidiary of Korean Air. Like with Air Busan, it is not yet clear which jets will get Starlink. Alaska Airlines An Alaska Airlines Embraer E175. Kevin Carter/Getty Images After merging with Hawaiian Airlines — the first major carrier to offer Starlink — Alaska Airlines announced its deal in August. It says it will first be available next year and will be rolled out across the fleet by 2027. Asiana Airlines Asiana Airlines is merging with Korean Air. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Asiana Airlines is another subsidiary of Korean Air. The two airlines merged in 2024, while the Asiana brand is set to be phased out by the end of next year. "Following the integration with Asiana Airlines, the airline plans to complete fleetwide installation by the end of 2027," Korean said in its Starlink announcement. It also said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets. Austrian Airlines An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320neo. Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images The flag carrier of Austria is a subsidiary of Lufthansa, which announced its deal with Starlink in January. While Lufthansa said the rollout will start in the second half of 2026, it isn't clear exactly when Austrian jets will get Starlink. British Airways A British Airways Boeing 787. Kevin Carter/Getty Images The UK flag carrier is also part of IAG. BA said it would start rolling out Starlink next year and that it would be available free of charge to all its passengers. Brussels Airlines A Brussels Airlines Airbus A320. Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images Belgium's national airline is another subsidiary of Lufthansa, which announced its deal with Starlink in January. Lufthansa's rollout of Starlink will begin in late 2026. Edelweiss Air An Edelweiss Air plane in Zurich. : Gunter Fischer/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Edelweiss Air is a sister company to Swiss International Air Lines. Both are subsidiaries of Lufthansa. Like with other Lufthansa-owned airlines, Starlink will be free for all status customers and Travel ID users. Emirates An Emirates Airbus A380. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images Dubai's airline is starting to roll out Starlink this month and plans to add it to all 232 in-service aircraft by mid-2027. It's also set to operate the first double-decker Airbus A380 with the service. Eurowings A Eurowings plane taking off. Jaime REINA / AFP via Getty Images Eurowings is a German budget airline and another subsidiary of Lufthansa, which announced its deal with Starlink in January. Starlink will be free for all Lufthansa Group status customers and Travel ID users. FlyDubai A FlyDubai Boeing 737. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The Emirati budget airline also announced its Starlink deal during this month's Dubai Airshow. It only operates Boeing 737s and plans to install Starlink on 100 of them from next year. Iberia Mitsubishi CRJ-200ER for Iberia Air Nostrum. adolf martinez soler/Shutterstock The Spanish flag carrier is also part of IAG. The conglomerate said it would roll out Starlink across its fleets from 2026. ITA Airways Pope Leo XIV boarding an ITA Airways plane. Maria Grazia Picciarella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Italy's flag carrier is part-owned by the country's government and the Lufthansa Group. The latter announced a deal with Starlink in January. The Pope typically flies abroad on a chartered ITA Airways plane, with the airline dressing the seats in Vatican colors. Jin Air A Jin Air Boeing 737. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Budget airline Jin Air, another subsidiary of Korean Air, will also get Starlink on its planes. It will first install the high-speed WiFi on its Boeing 737-8 jets, the announcement said. JSX A JSX plane. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images JSX is a charter air carrier and was the first carrier to equip Starlink back in 2023. Its fleet is mostly made up of regional Embraer jets. Korean Air A Korean Air Boeing 777. Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images Korean Air announced in December that it's adding Starlink, with service starting as early as the third quarter of 2026. It said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets, aiming for Starlink to be across the fleet by the end of 2027. Level A Level Airlines plane at Barcelona Airport. Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images Level is a budget airline based in Barcelona and is part of IAG. The airline's parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026. Lufthansa Come 2025, Lufthansa will operate the world's longest 747 flight by distance. Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images Lufthansa, Germany's flag carrier, announced in January that it would install Starlink across its fleet and those of its subsidiaries. Introduction is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with all planes equipped with Starlink by 2029. It said access would be free for all status customers and Travel ID users. The Lufthansa Group added that further details will be announced throughout the year. Qatar Airways A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 at Athens International Airport. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images Qatar Airways outpaced its regional rival, Emirates, by announcing Starlink back in May 2024. As of November, it operates the most wide-body aircraft with the service, numbering over 100. Starlink is installed on all Qatar's Boeing 777s and is being rolled out to its Airbus A350s. SAS Mark Harkin/Flickr Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, is the flag carrier for Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It announced Starlink in January and said the rollout would begin at the end of the year. Passengers would need to sign up for its EuroBonus loyalty program for free access. Swiss International Air Lines A Swiss International Air Lines plane at San Francisco International Airport. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images Swiss International Air Lines is one of the many subsidiaries of Lufthansa getting Starlink internet. It will be part of the rollout that starts in the second half of 2026. United Airlines United Airlines planes at Newark on Saturday. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images United Airlines was the second US airline to announce a Starlink deal, but the first of the Big Three. It has installed the service on over half of its regional planes, and is continuing to roll it out across its whole fleet. The airline says customers will get a notification before their flight if it is equipped with Starlink. Passengers need to sign up for its MileagePlus loyalty program for free access. Virgin Atlantic A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350. NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to announce its deal with Starlink, which it did in July. Installation is planned to start in the second half of next year. Passengers will need to sign up for the airline's Flying Club loyalty program to use it. Vueling Flickr/Eric Salard Another IAG subsidiary, Vueling is a Spanish budget airline. Its parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026. WestJet Flickr/Lord of the Wings Canada's WestJet started installing Starlink in February, and it's now equipped on over 100 of its Boeing 737 jets. It plans for all its 737-800 and 737 Max 8s to have Starlink by the end of the year. Free access requires signing up for its loyalty program. Zipair ZipAir Boeing 787-8 takes off from Tokyo Narita International Airport. Kittikun Yoksap/Shutterstock Zipair is a Japanese budget airline and a subsidiary of Japan Airlines. It was an early adopter of Starlink, announcing its deal in early 2023, but doesn't appear to have yet launched the service. Read the original article on Business Insider

5h
3 min
0
Read Article
🎉

You're all caught up!

Check back later for more stories

Back to Home