US EditionGlobal coal demand hit record high this year but is set to decline by 2030, IEA says.
Global coal demand reached 8.85 billion tonnes in 2025, driven mainly by China; demand expected to decline slightly by 2030 due to growth in renewables and natural gas, IEA said.
- On Dec 17, the International Energy Agency said global coal demand rose 0.5 in 2025 to a record 8.85 billion tons, but is expected to decline by 2030 as renewables, nuclear, and natural gas gain ground.
- Amid policy and weather shifts, policy shifts, weather and fuel-price changes pushed consumption higher in 2025, while rising natural gas prices and measures slowed coal-plant retirements in the United States.
- Regionally, China remains the key driver, with coal's share in power generation expected to be around 34% in 2025, the IEA said.
- The IEA warned the record rise complicates efforts to meet global climate targets and that China’s power demand and policy choices will largely determine near- to medium-term coal trends.
- Through 2030, the International Energy Agency projects coal demand will plateau then slowly decline, with U.S. demand falling as renewable power grows and coal plants retire, though higher electricity use could alter this path.
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The data show that overall carbon demand in 2025 has slightly increased, about 0.5% compared to 2024, which was already a year of memory, reaching 8.85 billion tons.
IEA predicts global coal use will peak by 2030
Global coal use may peak by 2030, the International Energy Agency said. Renewables, nuclear power, and natural gas are squeezing demand for the dirtiest fossil fuel, although it remains the single largest source of electricity and has seen record use this year. In another positive sign for global carbon use, China’s emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months, Carbon Brief analysis found. But the carbon emitted so far has already led to al…
However, the International Energy Agency expects it to "slightly decrease" by 2030.
Global coal consumption is expected to be slightly above its peak in 2025, partly due to policy measures by the Trump administration, but is expected to begin to decline by 2030, as other sources of electricity grow, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
IEA Forecasts Record Coal Use In 2025 As US Demand Rebounds
Global coal consumption is expected to reach a record high in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency, driven in part by strong policy support from the Trump administration. The IEA said global demand is on track to rise 0.5 percent this year to 8.85 billion tonnes, the highest level ever recorded. China and India traditionally fuel growth in coal use, but demand remained flat in China and declined in India. Global coal demand has rea…
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