Market research

Coal market in the United States

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the U.S. coal market volume declined from 549.3 million tonnes to 427.7 million tonnes. The sharp contraction in 2020 was directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced demand for coal in steel production and energy generation worldwide.

Market volume rebounded to 451.4 million tonnes in 2021 and reached 460.3 million tonnes in 2022, driven by the post-pandemic economic reopening that increased demand for coal in power generation and steelmaking.

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 the United States, 2018–2022
  1. 5.1.1. Production - total information
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production the United States in value, 2018–2022, M $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.2.1. Global production by Country, :years
    1. 5.2.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country Kind, 2018-2022, M t
    2. 5.2.1.2. Structure of production by countries Kind, 2018-2022
    3. 5.2.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries 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, M t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M 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 the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United States 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 the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States 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, M t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M 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 the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from the United States 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 the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from the United States 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, M t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M 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 the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United States 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 the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States 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, M t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, M 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 the United States in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to the United States 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 the United States, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to the United States by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, M t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, M 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 the United States

In kind, 2017-2020, M t

Globally, the United States ranked as the third-largest producer of coal from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of coal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Coal production in the United States declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 485.7 million tonnes of coal, which represents a 24.2% decrease compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 30.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -11.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.4%)	(6.6%)	(24.2%)	(11.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports coal from the United States

Exports in kind, M t

Coal exports from the United States declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 62.7 million tonnes, which is 42.4% lower than in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 54.3%, equating to an annualized rate of -23.0%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 141.9 million tonnes, with the largest increase of 3.6% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.6%	(23.4%)	(42.4%)	(23.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, U.S. coal exports were distributed across a wide range of markets. India accounted for 13.6% of exports in kind, Brazil for 10.1%, and Japan for 9.4%, with these three countries together making up only 33.1% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Foreign coal supplies from the United States declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 6 104 million U.S. dollars, marking a 37.9% reduction compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 38.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -14.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 12 163 million U.S. dollars, with the largest increase of 23.0% also occurring that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	23.0%	(19.2%)	(37.9%)	(14.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, U.S. coal was exported to a diverse set of markets. India accounted for 12.9% of exports in value terms, Brazil for 10.5%, and Japan for 10.4%, with these three countries together representing only 33.8% of total export value. The remaining 66.2% was distributed among many smaller destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from the United States in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coal to the United States

Imports in kind, M t

In 2020, coal imports into the United States reached 4.6 million tonnes, showing a significant decrease of 23.9% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 34.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -13.2%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 12.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(23.7%)	12.5%	(23.9%)	(13.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Colombia remained the primary source for coal imports into the United States, accounting for 73.8% of total imports in kind. Other destinations played a much smaller role in the import structure.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, coal deliveries to the United States were valued at 401 million U.S. dollars, representing a 29.8% year-over-year drop. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 40.3%, equating to an annualized rate of -15.8%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 9.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(22.1%)	9.1%	(29.8%)	(15.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Colombia and Canada dominated the import market in value terms, jointly accounting for 83.9% of total flows. Other countries made up the remaining share.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to the United States in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io