Market research

Coal market in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2026

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Latin America and the Caribbean" region includes following countries:

Argentina

Bolivia

Bouvet Island

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

French Guiana

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Antigua and Barbuda

the Bahamas

Barbados

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Montserrat

Curacao

Aruba

Saint Maarten (Dutch part)

Bonaire

Puerto Rico

Saint-Barthélemy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Anguilla

Saint Lucia

Saint-Martin (French Part)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

United States Virgin Islands

Earlier Report Observations

Coal production in Latin America and the Caribbean declined from 112.1 million t in 2018 to 68.9 million t in 2020, before recovering slightly to 76.1 million t in 2022. The market size followed a similar trend, dropping sharply to 35.2 million t in 2020 and then rising to 59.7 million t in 2021, but falling again to 56.2 million t in 2022.

In 2023 and 2024, coal imports continued to decrease, reaching 23.1 million t in 2024, while exports increased to 56.5 million t. During this period, the region saw the development of carbon markets through initiatives like the Latin American and Caribbean Carbon Market Development Initiative (ILACC), which promoted high-integrity voluntary carbon markets. Additionally, stricter environmental regulations in countries such as Brazil and Mexico, along with significant public investments in water infrastructure, drove demand for activated carbon. The launch of sustainable production initiatives, like Jacobi Carbons Group's 'Go Green' for coconut shell-based carbon, also influenced market dynamics.

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 Latin America and the Caribbean
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2018-2022, M t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2022, M 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina 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 Latin America and the Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, M t

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Coal production in Latin America and the Caribbean has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 68.9 million tonnes of coal, which represents a 34.9% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 41.5%, translating to an annualized decline rate of 16.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.9%)	(5.5%)	(34.9%)	(16.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Coal production in Latin America and the Caribbean has declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the value of coal output was $4,119 million US, down by 50.7% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value decreased by 52.7%, with an annualized rate of 22.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at $9,703 million US, which also saw the largest increase of 11.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.4%	(13.9%)	(50.7%)	(22.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports coal from Latin America and the Caribbean

Exports in kind, K t

Coal exports from Latin America and the Caribbean have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 60,799 thousand tonnes, a decrease of 3.5% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 35.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -13.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.0%)	(18.0%)	(3.5%)	(13.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of coal exports in kind remained highly diversified. The top three destinations—Turkey (22.7% of exports in kind), the Netherlands (9.7%), and Israel (5.9%)—together accounted for only 38.2% of total flows. The remaining 61.8% was distributed among a long tail of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Cross-border shipments of coal from Latin America and the Caribbean have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at $3,633 million US, marking a sharp decline of 26.9% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 47.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -19.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.9%)	(25.2%)	(26.9%)	(19.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, coal from Latin America and the Caribbean was supplied to many different markets. Even the largest destinations—Turkey, the Netherlands, and Israel—together represented only 37.1% of total exports in value terms, highlighting the diversity of the export structure.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coal to Latin America and the Caribbean

Imports in kind, K t

Coal deliveries to Latin America and the Caribbean have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported 27,075 thousand tonnes of coal, indicating a decrease of 5.3% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 24.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8.8%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 41,835 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 17.2%. In contrast, the largest decline occurred in 2019 with a drop of 31.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	17.2%	(31.7%)	(5.3%)	(8.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, imports of coal in kind to Latin America and the Caribbean relied on a wide range of partner countries. The top three suppliers—the United States (24.4% of imports in kind), Australia (15.8%), and Russia (6.6%)—together accounted for just 46.8% of total flows, demonstrating a diversified import base.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Coal imports to Latin America and the Caribbean have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported coal valued at $3,050 million US, which is 43.3% less than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 48.7%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 20.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at $6,217 million US, which also saw the largest increase of 4.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.5%	(13.4%)	(43.3%)	(20.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, the United States (28.0% of imports in value terms), Australia (20.0%), and Russia (6.4%) made the biggest contribution to imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 54.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io