The resilience of U.S. coal in the global market Image By EPN Staff The United States still exports a significant amount of coal, reaching a six-year high in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In fact, U.S. coal exports have been increasing since 2020, when they took a dip during the pandemic, and nearly 40% of U.S. coal exports move through the ports in Hampton Roads, Virginia. India is the top destination for U.S. coal by a long shot. China has been a top 5 importer, and new tariffs may affect the market. Why it matters The coal export market is complex, involving both thermal coal used for power generation and metallurgical, or coking, coal used primarily for steel production. Much of the coal China uses to fire power plants comes from Chinese mines, but it’s a major importer of coking coal, and it’s the largest overall importer of coal worldwide. China continues to build out its renewable energy infrastructure at a record pace but the nation still relies heavily on coal. In fact, China approved 66.7 gigawatts of new coal-fired power capacity in 2024 and construction of 94.5 gigawatts more was already underway, the highest level in nearly a decade, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. “Instead of replacing coal, clean energy is being layered on top of an entrenched reliance on fossil fuels,” the CREA reports. Top coal-producing states U.S. coal production occurs across 21 states, but the vast majority is produced in just five states: Wyoming – 41% West Virginia – 14% Pennsylvania – 6.7% Illinois – 6.3% Kentucky – 4.8% The bigger picture While the U.S. is a net exporter of coal, some areas – including plants along the Gulf Coast – find it cheaper to import coal than ship it from U.S. mines, according to the EIA. Most of Virginia's coal exports are metallurgical, and those customers are typically in Europe and Brazil. Asian markets are harder to reach from Virginia, in part because Australian mines can reach them cheaper. Without China’s appetite for coal, prices would likely “really go down,” Reuters reported in January, quoting an Indonesian mining executive. SUGGESTED STORIES Coal’s prospects are turning brighter Domestic coal-fired plants should remain “relatively well-stocked through the end of next year,” the U.S. Energy Information Administration said recently. “We estimate power plants in the United States had 124 million short tons of coal on-site Read more Rare earth minerals: The peril and promise of coal ash A recent study led by researchers at the University of Texas estimates the coal ash stored around the United States contains 11 million tons of rare earth elements worth approximately $8.4 billion. That coal ash contains rare earth elements – crucial to modern products – has long be Read more American coal is cleaner than Chinese wind and solar China’s dominance in producing solar panels and wind turbines raises various complex environmental, geopolitical, and socioeconomic concerns. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind are often touted as clean alternatives to fossil fuels, the global reliance on China for t Read more
Coal’s prospects are turning brighter Domestic coal-fired plants should remain “relatively well-stocked through the end of next year,” the U.S. Energy Information Administration said recently. “We estimate power plants in the United States had 124 million short tons of coal on-site Read more
Rare earth minerals: The peril and promise of coal ash A recent study led by researchers at the University of Texas estimates the coal ash stored around the United States contains 11 million tons of rare earth elements worth approximately $8.4 billion. That coal ash contains rare earth elements – crucial to modern products – has long be Read more
American coal is cleaner than Chinese wind and solar China’s dominance in producing solar panels and wind turbines raises various complex environmental, geopolitical, and socioeconomic concerns. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind are often touted as clean alternatives to fossil fuels, the global reliance on China for t Read more
