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China - Coal - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Jun 1, 2025

China - Coal - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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January 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM GMT+0

China's Coal Import Dominance Reaches New Heights

China, the world's largest coal consumer, has significantly widened its lead over India in coal imports in 2024, setting a new record and reinforcing its grip on the global coal market. According to recent reports, China's coal imports soared to an unprecedented 542.7 million metric tons, more than double India's 250.2 million tons. This marks the largest gap in coal imports between the two countries since at least 2013, according to customs data.

In 2024, China accounted for a staggering 41% of global coal imports, reflecting an increase in preference for foreign coal due to competitive pricing against domestic sources. Financial data from the IndexBox platform shows China's coal import value reached $52.4 billion in 2024, slightly up from $52.3 billion in 2023. Major suppliers to China included Indonesia, with an import value of $17 billion, followed by Russia at $11.2 billion, and Australia at $9.4 billion.

Despite a declining trend in global coal prices post-Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prices remain 50% higher than the 2017-2019 average, as reported by the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, industry analysts such as Argus foresee a potential decline in Chinese coal imports due to relaxed stock building requirements and a shift away from coal in power generation. Yet, due to persistent industrial demand, import volumes are expected to stay close to 2024 levels.

In contrast to its import surge, China's coal export activity remains relatively muted. Data reveals that China's coal export value to countries like Japan and Indonesia stood at $1.3 billion in 2024, compared to $1.2 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, India's coking coal imports, critical for steel manufacturing, experienced growth of 4.7% in 2024, whereas China's surged by 23% largely due to disruptions in domestic production.

The geopolitical landscape and economic shifts have reshaped coal trade dynamics. With Russian coal losing its competitive edge, Indonesian and South African coal have remained attractive to Indian buyers, as noted by market participants like Vasudev Pamnani from India's I-Energy Natural Resources.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the coal market in China. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

    Country coverage:

    Data coverage:

    • Market volume and value
    • Per Capita consumption
    • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
    • Trade (exports and imports) in China
    • Export and import prices
    • Market trends, drivers and restraints
    • Key market players and their profiles

    Reasons to buy this report:

    • Take advantage of the latest data
    • Find deeper insights into current market developments
    • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

    This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

    In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

    1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
    2. How to load your idle production capacity
    3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
    4. How to increase your profit margins
    5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
    6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
    7. How to outsource production to other countries
    8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

    While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

    1. 1. INTRODUCTION

      Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

      1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
      2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
      3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
      4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

    2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      A Quick Overview of Market Performance

      1. KEY FINDINGS
      2. MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

    3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

      Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

      1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

    4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

      Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

      1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
      2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
      3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
      4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
      5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS

    5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

      Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

      1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
      2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
      3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
      4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

    6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

      Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

      1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
      2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
      3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
      4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
      5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

    7. 7. PRODUCTION

      The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

      1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

    8. 8. IMPORTS

      The Largest Import Supplying Countries

      1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
      3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

    9. 9. EXPORTS

      The Largest Destinations for Exports

      1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
      2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
      3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

    10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

      The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    11. LIST OF TABLES

      1. Key Findings In 2024
      2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
      8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      10. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024

    12. LIST OF FIGURES

      1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
      9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
      10. Market Size and Growth, By Product
      11. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
      12. Exports and Growth, By Product
      13. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
      14. Production Volume and Growth
      15. Exports and Growth
      16. Export Prices and Growth
      17. Market Size and Growth
      18. Per Capita Consumption
      19. Imports and Growth
      20. Import Prices
      21. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      22. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      23. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      24. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
      26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      28. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
      29. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      30. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
      31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
      32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
      34. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024

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