U.S. coal exports reached a six-year record in June 2024

U.S. coal exports have increased each year since 2020, when they averaged 5.8 million short tons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. coal exports consist of both steam coal and metallurgical coal that are produced in the United States and sent to other countries. Greenpeace photo by Tim Aubry.

This article was published by the US Energy Information Administration on Feb. 4, 2025.

By Kimberly Peterson, Kristen Tsai

Gross U.S. coal exports in June 2024 totalled 10 million short tons, the most in a month since October 2018, data from our Short-Term Energy Outlook data browser show. Annual average U.S. coal exports were 9.0 million short tons in 2024. U.S. coal exports have increased each year since 2020, when they averaged 5.8 million short tons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

monthly U.S. gross coal exports

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook

U.S. coal exports consist of both steam coal and metallurgical coal that are produced in the United States and sent to other countries. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used by coal-fired power plants to generate electricity and by consumers to heat their homes or businesses. Metallurgical coal is used mainly to produce steel, so demand for metallurgical coal closely follows demand for steel.

In our Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast that U.S. coal exports will exceed 10.0 million short tons in only two months during 2025 and 2026—in December of each year.

Facebook Comments

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*