Market research

Coal market in Bangladesh

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Bangladesh's coal market volume grew strongly from 4 916 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 9 145 thousand tonnes in 2020. This expansion was driven by government policy to increase the use of coal in electricity generation, shifting focus from natural gas and stimulating demand for imported thermal coal.

Market volume contracted to 7 456 thousand tonnes in 2021 before recovering to 9 662 thousand tonnes in 2022. The government's decision to close ten delayed coal power projects moderated growth, but the underlying trend towards coal continued as high international gas prices made coal a more economical fuel for power production.

Coal imports surged to 13 265 thousand tonnes in 2023 and reached 14 354 thousand tonnes in 2024. This sharp increase was powered by a nearly threefold rise in coal-fired electricity generation, specific government policies and investments supporting coal-based power, and global energy market volatility exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, which raised energy import costs and further incentivized coal use.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2022
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2022
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bangladesh
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bangladesh in kind, 2018-2022, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bangladesh in value, 2018-2022, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2022, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2022
  3. 5.2.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2022
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bangladesh, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bangladesh, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bangladesh, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bangladesh, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bangladesh by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production coal in Bangladesh

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

After two consecutive years of decline, coal production in Bangladesh showed signs of recovery. In 2020, the country produced 811 thousand tons of coal, marking a slight increase of 0.7% compared to the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually decreased by 30.1%, which translates to an average annual decline of 11.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 806 thousand tons, while the most significant drop occurred in 2018 with a 20.5% decrease.

Annual dynamics of production in Bangladesh in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(20.5%)	(12.7%)	0.7%	(11.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports coal from Bangladesh

Exports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Bangladesh's coal exports experienced a peak in 2019 and then fell to their lowest point in 2020, with a 12.5-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, the country exported just 1 thousand tons of coal, representing a dramatic drop of 92.0% compared to 2019. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 17 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 332.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	332.6%	(92.0%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India was overwhelmingly the main destination for Bangladesh's coal exports in physical terms, accounting for 100.0% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bangladesh in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. Export values showed significant volatility, with an 8.5-fold difference between the high in 2019 and the low in 2020. In 2020, coal shipments from Bangladesh abroad were valued at 0.2 million US dollars, showing a sharp decline of 88.2% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 2.0 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 357.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bangladesh in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	357.9%	(88.2%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, virtually all of Bangladesh's coal exports in value terms were directed to India, which accounted for 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bangladesh in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coal to Bangladesh

Imports in kind, K t

Coal imports into Bangladesh increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 8 335 thousand tons, representing a 13.4% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 169.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 39.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	29.3%	83.9%	13.4%	39.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Indonesia played the leading role in Bangladesh's coal imports in physical terms, accounting for 77.6% of total import flows, while other markets together made up the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bangladesh in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Foreign coal supplies to Bangladesh increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 392.2 million US dollars, representing a modest increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 57.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 16.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bangladesh in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	39.3%	12.0%	0.8%	16.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, imports of coal to Bangladesh in value terms were largely concentrated on Indonesia, which accounted for 75.5% of total flows; other countries together formed the remaining 24.5%.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bangladesh in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io