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Global demand for coal reaches a record level in 2025 with expectations of gradual stabilization in the future
The International Energy Agency’s report predicts a 0.5% rise in global coal demand in 2025, reaching a record level estimated at 8.85 billion tons, marking the highest consumption levels in recent history.
This figure follows a record year in 2024, which also saw unprecedented coal consumption during the hottest year on record, according to the agency’s annual report. Despite this increase, the agency’s forecasts indicate that global coal demand is beginning to show signs of stabilization, with a potential gradual decline expected by 2030 due to the continuous expansion of renewable energy sources, the growth of nuclear energy capacities, and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas entering the market.
The report highlights that coal-based electricity production, which currently accounts for about two-thirds of global energy consumption, is expected to start declining as of 2026, while coal consumption in various industries remains more resilient and stable.
Regionally, China has experienced relative stability in consumption, as it remains the world’s largest consumer, accounting for 56% of demand. Meanwhile, India has seen a decrease in demand due to two remarkably rainy winters, an infrequent occurrence that has only happened three times in fifty years.
In the United States, rising natural gas prices and political decisions to delay the closure of coal plants have contributed to an increase in consumption after fifteen years of consistent decline.
In the European Union, coal demand has only dropped by 3% in 2025, compared to significant declines of about 18% on average in 2023 and 2024, attributed to weak electricity production from wind and hydro sources during the first half of the year.
The report confirms that the general trend points toward a gradual shift to more sustainable energy sources, while coal remains a fundamental factor in industrial activity, reflecting the challenges of the energy transition worldwide.
