The global coal trading market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 3.2% during the forecast period. Coal is majorly consumed in various sectors such as industry, transport, residential, commercial and public services, agriculture, fishing, and several non-energy areas that generate the coal demand, leading to trade of coal in between the nations. However, the uses of coal are squeezed out of the energy mix in many developed nations ? the reason being the generation of air pollutants due to coal combustion. Moreover, power from coal is getting mixed up with other alternative sources like renewables and natural gas, which helps to reduce the environmental impact as compared to coal. These factors, in turn, are expected restrain the growth of coal trading market in the coming years.

  • Importers and exporters of coal are the major players in the coal trading business. During 2018, both importer and exporter have an almost equivalent traded quantity of coal, of around 858.8 metric tonnes oil equivalent (Mtoe).
  • With the growing demand for electricity, coal power plants in the Asia-Pacific is expected to be a significant consumer of coal. The region is expected to have a demand of around 4400 mega tonnes of coal equivalent (Mtce) by 2040, with majority of demand from the power sector. This demand for coal is expected to create an opportunity for the coal trading market in the future.
  • Asia-Pacific is dominating the coal trading market with China and India as the major importer, and Australia and Indonesia as the major exporter of coal during the year 2018. Furthermore, Asia-Pacific imports 73% and exports 60% of the total traded coal in the globe.



Key Market Trends

Importer and Exporter to Maintain an Equal Share in the Market

  • Coal trading market is primarily operated by importer and exporter that enable to meet the demand of coal in various region of the world. Around twelve major importers and twelve major exporters are present that run the global coal trading market.
  • During 2018, both importer and exporter accounted for an equal market share. China, India, Japan, and Europe are the major importer of coal, while Russia, Australia, and Indonesia are the major exporter.
  • Europe was the highest importer of coal during 2018, with around 17.4% market share, while China has around 17.1% market share.
  • Australia was the highest exporter of coal during 2018, with 29% market share, while Indonesia and Russia have around 16% and 25% market during the year.
  • With rising demand of coal, specially in Asia-Pacific, it is expected that by 2025 the global demand of coal would be nearly 5000 mtce. Europe and North-America is expected to reduce the coal consumption but Asia-Pacific is expected to remain dominated by coal as a major source of power.



Asia-Pacific is Dominating the Market

  • Asia-Pacific region is the major coal trader around the world that continues to trades a significant percentage of coal from the last few decades. With major coal-dependent countries, Asia-Pacific has the highest rate of imported market share.
  • Electricity generation from coal being the major sector of coal demand in China and India, make the region the highest dominating market in the globe.
  • Moreover, Australia and Indonesia are the highest producer of coal in the Asia Pacific, that exports the highest volume of coal. During 2018, Australia and Indonesia cumulatively produced more than 1000 Mt of coal, of which it traded nearly 450 Mtoe of coal.



Competitive Landscape

The coal trading market is partially consolidated. Some of the key players in the coal trading market include Glencore Plc., Vitol Holding B.V, Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd., Mercuria Energy Group, Hind Energy and Coal Beneficiary India limited, China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, China Coal Energy Company Limited, and Mitsubishi Corporation RtM Japan Ltd.

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