Global Coal Consumption 2025: Comprehensive Market Analysis

• 02.12.2025

The year 2025 represents a turning point for the global coal market. According to the latest report, worldwide coal consumption is estimated between 8.79 and 8.8 billion tonnes, a level that signals a clear slowdown compared to previous years and introduces the concept of a true structural plateau. Although volumes remain close to historical highs, analysts highlight increasingly fragile growth dynamics, suggesting a potential decline already expected in 2026.

What emerges, however, is a highly uneven landscape. China, which alone accounts for more than half of global consumption, shows increasing signs of stabilization thanks to the extraordinary expansion of renewable energy: in the first six months of 2025, the country installed 212 GW of new solar capacity, a pace that significantly reduces coal’s weight in the national energy mix. Industrial demand continues to provide support, yet not enough to counterbalance a trend that now appears firmly established.

India strengthens its role as the new global driver, propelled by rising electricity needs and a rapidly expanding industrial base. By contrast, the United States registers an unexpected upswing in coal demand, driven by factors such as the exponential growth of data centers and elevated natural gas prices, which make coal-fired generation comparatively more competitive.

In Europe, the structural decline persists, despite occasional short-term increases linked to renewable generation volatility. The report also highlights a historic milestone: in the first half of 2025, solar and wind power overtook coal as the world’s primary sources of electricity generation, marking a symbolic yet meaningful shift toward a new global energy balance.