Coal market in Slovakia, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

The coal market in Slovakia contracted significantly from 2018 to 2022, with total consumption falling from 5 994 thousand tons to 4 148 thousand tons. The steepest decline occurred in 2020, when the market volume dropped to 3 771 thousand tons, before recovering to 4 509 thousand tons in 2021.

This overall reduction was driven by a sharp fall in imports, which decreased from 4 720 thousand tons in 2018 to 2 898 thousand tons in 2020. Domestic production also declined, particularly in 2020 and 2022, falling to 957 thousand tons and 842 thousand tons respectively, which further contributed to the smaller market size.

In the following years through 2024, coal imports continued their downward trend, reaching 2 723 thousand tons, while export levels remained low, suggesting a continued contraction in the country's coal consumption beyond 2022.

Production coal in Slovakia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

In 2019, Slovakia's coal production saw a modest increase of 0.1%. However, by 2020, production had dropped significantly to 957 thousand tons, marking a 33.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 42.9%, with an average annual decrease of 17.0%.

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

Exports coal from Slovakia

Exports in kind, K t

The export market showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2018, exports reached their peak at 152 thousand tons, but then fell sharply to a low of 32 thousand tons in 2019, representing a 79.0% decline and a 4.8-fold difference between these two years. By 2020, exports rebounded to 83 thousand tons, showing a substantial improvement of 158.6% compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Serbia and Czechia were the two main markets for Slovakia's coal exports, together accounting for 86.9% of the total volume. The remaining exports were distributed among various other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited significant volatility in these years. In 2018, exports peaked at 23.5 million US dollars, but then dropped to a low of 7.5 million US dollars in 2019, a decline of 68.1% and a 3.1-fold variation. In 2020, exports recovered to 12.8 million US dollars, representing a 69.8% increase compared to the previous year.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Serbia and Czechia dominated Slovakia's coal exports in value terms, jointly making up 81.4% of the total. Other countries accounted for the remainder.

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

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

Imports coal to Slovakia

Imports in kind, K t

Slovakia's coal imports declined for the second year in a row. In 2018, imports reached their highest point at 4 720 thousand tons, with a 6.0% increase that year. By 2019, imports had started to fall, and in 2020, they dropped further to 2 898 thousand tons, a 22.3% decrease compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 34.9%, with an average annual decline of 13.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia, Czechia, and Poland were the key sources for Slovakia's coal imports in volume terms. Russia accounted for 34.1% of imports, Czechia for 21.7%, and Poland for 15.2%, together representing 71.0% of the total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Slovakia's coal imports in value terms also fell for two consecutive years. In 2018, imports peaked at 666.3 million US dollars, with a 4.8% increase that year. By 2020, imports had decreased to 354.4 million US dollars, a sharp 36.8% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports declined by 44.3%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 17.7%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Russia, Czechia, and Poland consistently led Slovakia's coal imports in value terms. Russia contributed 25.9% of the total value, Czechia 20.9%, and Poland 13.7%, together accounting for 60.5% of all import flows.

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

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