EIA: U.S. Coal Exports Fell in 2025

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Written by John Egan for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

U.S. exports of coal declined in 2025, the first time that has happened in five years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Exports of steam and metallurgical coal both declined last year.

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U.S. Coal Exports Fell in 2025

The U.S. exported about 14% less coal in 2025 compared to 2024, a decline of about 15 million short tons, according to an April 1 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Combined exports of thermal and metallurgical coal fell to about 93 million short tons in 2025 from about 108 million short tons in 2024, the EIA said. See the EIA chart below.

Exports fell for both thermal and metallurgical coal, the EIA said. Thermal coal exports fell by 18%, or about 10 million short tons, while metallurgical coal exports fell approximately 11%, or 7 million short tons.

Most of the decline stemmed from a 92% reduction in exports to China in 2025, according to the agency. This drop-off was a consequence of the tit-for-tit tariff fight those countries waged on the other. China imposed a 15% additional tariff on imports of U.S. coal in February 2025 and an additional 34% reciprocal tariff on imports from the United States last April. These actions followed President Donald Trump's imposition of 10% tariffs on China in February 2025 for refusing to curtail exports of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, and an additional 35% tariff he levied on imports from that country one year ago, on April 2, 2025.

Trade Flows Affected by Tariffs, Which Remain in Flux

Both countries subsequently modified the terms of their tariffs, and there is uncertainty about the future direction of those actions. The U.S. Supreme Court this past February determined that Trump exceeded his authority as president in using the International Economic Emergency Policy Act (IEEPA) to justify levying tariffs on most goods imported from most countries in the world. For more on that, see February 20, 2026, article - Supreme Court Rejects Trump Tariffs under IEEPA.

Immediately after that ruling from the nation's high court, Trump then used a different legal authority, Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, to justify imposing a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports from other countries. For more on that, see February 27, 2026, article - Initial Reaction to New Tariffs Muted as Lawyers Assess Legality. Legal experts have questioned the applicability of that law to the current economic situation. It was enacted to address potential balance of payments accounting problems when the U.S. went off the gold standard under President Richard Nixon.

Trump's new 10% tariff is being litigated as well: A coalition of 24 states, led by New York and California, filed a lawsuit on March 5 in the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging the legal basis of those tariffs.

The EIA report did not speculate how exports to China would fare in 2026.

Global Factors Affecting U.S. Coal Exports

The EIA report said the global coal market in 2025 was "characterized by ample supply and soft demand, which caused prices to decline, making it increasingly difficult for U.S. coal exporters to earn profits."

As well, demand for coal from electric generators rose about 12% increase last year, reversing years of declines, the EIA added. That growth helped offset the drop-off in coal exports. For more on that, see January 27, 2026, article - Coal Use by U.S. Power Plants: Winning a Battle but Still Losing the War? Under Democratic presidents, as environmental regulation of coal tightened, domestic use of coal fell and coal producers looked to the export markets to offset falling domestic use.

Another energy information agency, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), last December issued a report on global coal use. It said it expected global use of all types of coal to rise a bit in 2025, slightly exceeding the previous year's record usage, but it still expected coal use to fall gradually for the rest of this decade. For more on that IEA report, see December 29, 2025, article - IEA: Global Coal Use Up Slightly in 2025, But Declines Seen to 2030.

That IEA report projected that coal use by China, the world's largest user of coal, would peak before 2030 while India was expected to be the main source of incremental demand. India was expected to up its use of coal about 3% annually through 2030.

The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran might affect global coal use in 2026 and U.S. exports of the fuel. As countries in Europe and Asia now face high costs and reduced ability to import oil from the Middle East due to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, news reports have cited Asian and European countries' plans to increase their reliance of domestic sources of energy, including coal, oil and natural gas, or potentially increase them from other countries, including, possibly, the U.S. For related information, see April 6, 2026, article - Germany and Italy May Turn Back to Coal.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. coal exports fell in 2025.
• Exports to China fell over 90% last year due to tariff fights between the U.S. and China.
• The global coal market was relatively soft last year, with slowing demand growth and ample supply, leading to falling prices and profits for U.S. exporters.
• It is unclear if U.S. exports of coal will increase in 2026.

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).