Coal market in North Macedonia

Earlier Report Observations

North Macedonia's coal market volume showed notable fluctuations between 2018 and 2022. Starting at 5.2 million tonnes in 2018, it grew slightly to 5.3 million tonnes in 2019 before contracting sharply to 4.7 million tonnes in 2020. A full recovery followed in 2021, bringing the market back to its 2018 level, and then a strong expansion to 6.2 million tonnes in 2022.

Domestic coal production followed a similar trajectory, falling to 4.5 million tonnes in 2020 and then rising to 5.5 million tonnes in 2022. Imports became increasingly significant, more than doubling from 174,000 tonnes in 2020 to 402,000 tonnes in 2021 and nearly doubling again to 749,000 tonnes in 2022, directly supporting the market's overall growth.

High levels of coal imports continued in the subsequent years, reaching 1.4 million tonnes in 2023 and 1.0 million tonnes in 2024, reflecting sustained demand within the country.

Production coal in North Macedonia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

North Macedonia produced 4,533 thousand tonnes of coal in 2020, marking a 10.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 10.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 3.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 5,066 thousand tonnes, with the largest year-on-year increase of 2.4% also occurring that year.

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

Exports coal from North Macedonia

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, North Macedonia exported 0.6 thousand tonnes of coal, representing a sharp decline of 34.4% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports dropped by 65.2%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -29.7%. The most significant decrease occurred in 2018 at 47.1%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 0.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Serbia and Russia were the dominant destinations for North Macedonia's coal exports in physical terms, jointly accounting for 83.6% of total export flows. Other countries held considerably smaller shares during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

North Macedonia's coal exports in value terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 71 thousand US dollars, down by 43.5% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 59.1%, equating to an average annual decline of 25.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from North Macedonia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Serbia and Russia dominated North Macedonia's coal exports in value terms, together accounting for 84.9% of total export flows. Other destinations contributed individually smaller amounts.

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

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

Imports coal to North Macedonia

Imports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, North Macedonia's coal imports in physical terms declined. In 2020, imports were recorded at 173.7 thousand tonnes, representing a 23.8% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 8.1%, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 2.6%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 227.9 thousand tonnes, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 32.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia (40.5% of imports in physical terms), Russia (27.4%), and the United States (18.2%) together accounted for 86.1% of North Macedonia's total coal imports by volume, remaining the country's primary sources of coal.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

North Macedonia's coal imports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 16,160 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp decrease of 31.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 5.9%, equating to an average annual decline of 2.0%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 27,086 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase also occurring that year at 57.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to North Macedonia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Indonesia (36.3% of imports in value terms), Russia (29.8%), and the United States (20.3%) consistently held leading positions in North Macedonia's import structure by value, jointly accounting for 86.4% of total import flows.

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

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