Market research

Coal market in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2026

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, coal imports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo increased steadily, reaching 663 thousand tonnes in 2023. This expansion was supported by the country's persistent reliance on charcoal for energy, with media reports in 2019 highlighting Kinshasa's daily consumption of around 5 000 tonnes of charcoal, reflecting robust urban demand. Government statements in 2022 further emphasized the market's economic weight, valued at nearly 4.8 billion USD annually.

The period saw the emergence of alternative energy sources. In 2021, women's associations began producing greener charcoal from sawmill waste, introducing a new product segment. Policy initiatives like the Bboxx LGP pilot in 2022 aimed to make gas cheaper than charcoal in some regions, while international attention to deforestation spurred community-based conservation projects.

In 2024, coal imports declined to 575 thousand tonnes. This coincided with tighter state oversight following the suspension of the OCC director for mismanagement and the entry of new private entrepreneurs offering bio-charcoal at competitive prices. These developments, along with ongoing promotion of mini-grid electricity, indicate a gradual shift in the energy landscape.

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 Democratic Republic of the Congo
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2022, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo 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, 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Democratic Republic of the Congo 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/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Democratic Republic of the Congo 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/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Democratic Republic of the Congo 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/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Democratic Republic of the Congo 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/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 Democratic Republic of the Congo

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo produced 8,000 tonnes of coal, remaining broadly stable compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase also occurred in 2018 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	-	-	-

Source: SHEV.io

Exports coal from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo exported 0.0 thousand tonnes of coal, showing no significant change from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 104,900%, with a compound annual growth rate of 916.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	916.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, coal exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo were almost entirely concentrated in Uganda, which accounted for 99.9% of the total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo's coal export value stood at 2,000 US dollars, with no significant year-over-year change. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 8,146.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 335.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	335.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda was the key and nearly sole market for Democratic Republic of the Congo's coal exports in value terms, accounting for 98.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coal to Democratic Republic of the Congo

Imports in kind, K t

Cross-border shipments of coal to Democratic Republic of the Congo increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 163.1 thousand tonnes of coal, marking a significant increase of 17.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 79.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 21.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.9%	38.2%	17.0%	21.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, coal imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo were largely oriented towards South Africa and Zimbabwe, whose combined share reached 85.4% of total flows, while other destinations played a secondary role.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Coal imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 22,074 thousand US dollars, which is 28.3% more than in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 93.6%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 24.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	32.2%	14.1%	28.3%	24.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Zimbabwe accounted for 81.2% of total coal imports in value terms, with the remaining share distributed among other destinations, each contributing smaller individual amounts.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io