Market research

Coal market in United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the U.S. coal market volume contracted significantly, falling from 549.3 million t to 427.7 million t. This decline was driven by competition from low-cost natural gas and renewable energy, which reduced coal's share in electricity generation, and was accelerated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic's severe impact on electricity demand.

Market volume partially recovered to 460.3 million t by 2022, supported by rebounding industrial activity and high natural gas prices that temporarily improved coal's competitiveness. However, infrastructure bottlenecks, such as limited export terminal capacity, and ongoing coal plant retirements constrained the pace of recovery.

In later years, U.S. coal exports reached their highest levels since 2018, fueled by strong Asian demand and sanctions on Russian coal. Despite this export growth, domestic coal consumption continued to decline due to the persistent shift toward natural gas and renewables in the power sector.

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. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.1.1. Global production by Country, :years
    1. 5.1.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country Kind, 2018-2022, M t
    2. 5.1.1.2. Structure of production by countries Kind, 2018-2022
    3. 5.1.1.3. 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2018-2024, M t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

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 the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 485.7 million tonnes, marking 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

Exports in kind, M t

Coal exports from the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 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 in that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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, the export partner structure for coal in kind was balanced rather than concentrated. India accounted for 13.6% of exports, Brazil for 10.1%, and Japan for 9.4%, together representing 33.1% of total flows. The remaining 66.9% was distributed among many other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Coal exports from the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 6 104 million US dollars, showing a steep decrease of 37.9% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 38.3%, equating to an annualized rate of -14.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 12 163 million US dollars, with the largest increase of 23.0% also occurring in that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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, coal from the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, was supplied to a broad set of markets. India accounted for 12.9% of exports in value terms, Brazil for 10.5%, and Japan for 10.4%, together making up 33.8% of total exports. 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coal to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

Imports in kind, M t

In 2020, coal imports to the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, amounted to 4.6 million tonnes, down by 23.9% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 34.7%, equating to an annualized rate of -13.2%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 12.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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 was the dominant source for coal imports in kind to the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, accounting for 73.8% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among a number of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, imported 401 million US dollars worth of coal, indicating a decrease of 29.8% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell 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 United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands 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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Colombia and Canada clearly dominated coal imports in value terms to the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, jointly accounting for 83.9% of total flows. Other countries held much smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to United States of America, including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io