The deadly coronavirus outbreak in China has forced Mongolia to suspend coal deliveries to its southern neighbour. Currently, Mongolia has lost USD 100 million of revenue because of the suspension of the coal export. Ulaanbaatar had set the goal of exporting 42 million tonnes of coal in 2020. However, the country was been forced to suspended coal deliveries to China on Friday (14 February).

According to data from the Mongolian Customs Administration, the country exported a total of 245.9 thousand tonnes of coal to China from 1-17 February, 2020; 70 percent of this was coking coal and the rest  was lower-value brown coal.

The number of trucks delivering coal to China fell to 50-100 per day from 800-1000 per day through Gashuun-Sukhait border crossings in early February; now deliveries have totally stopped.  Currently, Mongolia is exporting small amounts of brown coal to China by freight train since road deliveries has been suspended at the major Gashuun Sukhait and Shivee Khuren border crossings.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Mongolia earned over USD 200 million from coal exports of 2-3 million tonnes to China. Now, the country earns more than USD 20 million from 245.9 thousand tonnes of coal.

Mongolia earned USD 203 million 353 thousand from coal exports of 2 million 425 thousand tonnes in January, 2020. Coal prices rose to USD 83.3 per ton from USD 79.9 per ton. The country exported a total of 36.4 million tonnes of coal in 2019; three million tonnes per month.