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Coal crystals (Pixabay)Global purchases of imported coal totaled US$140 billion in 2025.
That dollar cost for worldwide coal imports results from a -10.1% slowdown since 2021 when imported coal cost $155.7 billion and a -23.7% decline from 2024 when globally imported coal amounted to $183.4 billion in international spending.
The top 5 importers of coal are India, mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (also called Chinese Taipei). Collectively, that cohort of leading coal importers bought over two-thirds (67.5%) of the worldwide coal total.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2025 with purchases amounting to $119.4 billion or over four-fifths (85.3%) of the worldwide total. In second place were importers based in Europe at 9.3%.
Smaller percentages were sold to buyers in Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.9%), North America (0.8%), then Oceania (0.04%) led by New Caledonia, Australia, Marshall Islands and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2701 for coal and similar solid fuels made from coal. About two-thirds (66.4%) of worldwide imported coal contains bitumen, while less than one percent (0.06%) was coal briquettes or similar solid fuels.
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2025.
- India: US$26.8 billion (19.1% of total imported coal)
- mainland China: $26.8 billion (19.1%)
- Japan: $22.3 billion (16%)
- South Korea: $12.4 billion (8.9%)
- Taiwan: $6.2 billion (4.4%)
- Türkiye: $4.61 billion (3.3%)
- Vietnam: $4.61 billion (3.3%)
- Germany: $3.98 billion (2.8%)
- Malaysia: $3.97 billion (2.8%)
- Indonesia: $3.3 billion (2.4%)
- Philippines: $2.6 billion (1.9%)
- Brazil: $2.5 billion (1.8%)
- Thailand: $1.45 billion (1%)
- Netherlands: $1.34 billion (1%)
- Bangladesh: $1.28 billion (0.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 88.6% of all spending on coal imported in 2025.
Among the above countries, the sole growth market for coal from 2024 to 2025 was Bangladesh via a 13.3% advance.
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported coal purchases were led by: Vietnam (down -37.4%), Taiwan (down -34%), mainland China (also down -34%) and Japan (down -25.3%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. The right-most column highlights the percentage change in value from 2024 to 2025
An entry of 0% in that column means that no value for 2024 was available.
| 1 | India | $26,795,615,000 | -16.3% |
| 2 | mainland China | $26,758,796,000 | -34% |
| 3 | Japan | $22,347,813,000 | -25.3% |
| 4 | South Korea | $12,395,204,000 | -24.5% |
| 5 | Taiwan | $6,155,864,000 | -34% |
| 6 | Türkiye | $4,612,054,000 | -7.9% |
| 7 | Vietnam | $4,605,191,000 | -37.4% |
| 8 | Germany | $3,975,790,000 | -22% |
| 9 | Malaysia | $3,969,067,000 | -11.6% |
| 10 | Indonesia | $3,317,261,000 | -8.5% |
| 11 | Philippines | $2,623,406,000 | -20.1% |
| 12 | Brazil | $2,491,989,000 | -20.3% |
| 13 | Thailand | $1,445,286,000 | -12.5% |
| 14 | Netherlands | $1,336,494,000 | -21.2% |
| 15 | Bangladesh | $1,282,202,000 | +13.3% |
| 16 | Morocco | $1,206,456,000 | +12.6% |
| 17 | France | $972,219,000 | -19.4% |
| 18 | Poland | $968,877,000 | -23.6% |
| 19 | Pakistan | $761,308,000 | +13.9% |
| 20 | Belgium | $755,977,000 | -16.7% |
| 21 | Ukraine | $711,263,000 | +76.9% |
| 22 | Canada | $699,442,000 | -12.7% |
| 23 | Italy | $638,616,000 | -25.6% |
| 24 | Chile | $595,156,000 | -19.9% |
| 25 | Spain | $586,775,000 | -26.7% |
| 26 | Cambodia | $586,201,000 | +2.4% |
| 27 | Egypt | $521,222,000 | -14.8% |
| 28 | Czech Republic | $465,112,000 | -19.2% |
| 29 | Slovakia | $456,970,000 | -31.4% |
| 30 | Sweden | $414,933,000 | -18% |
| 31 | United States | $394,423,000 | +7.5% |
| 32 | Hong Kong | $356,057,000 | -28.7% |
| 33 | Austria | $349,044,000 | -18.5% |
| 34 | Israel | $343,286,000 | -41.8% |
| 35 | Dominican Republic | $295,199,000 | -1.1% |
| 36 | Finland | $280,721,000 | -32% |
| 37 | United Kingdom | $249,086,000 | -13.9% |
| 38 | Guatemala | $205,021,000 | -12.7% |
| 39 | Sri Lanka | $202,234,000 | -36.1% |
| 40 | United Arab Emirates | $189,871,000 | -16.6% |
| 41 | Russia | $164,186,000 | +6% |
| 42 | South Africa | $159,848,000 | -57.8% |
| 43 | Norway | $156,376,000 | -9% |
| 44 | Kenya | $155,978,000 | +6.1% |
| 45 | Argentina | $143,473,000 | -36.3% |
| 46 | Senegal | $142,122,000 | -12.5% |
| 47 | Nepal | $134,554,000 | +3.4% |
| 48 | Brunei Darussalam | $106,071,000 | -6.2% |
| 49 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $101,428,000 | -51.3% |
| 50 | Democratic Republic Congo | $96,045,000 | +14.7% |
| 51 | Uzbekistan | $83,959,000 | -18.2% |
| 52 | Mauritius | $79,286,000 | -16.1% |
| 53 | Kazakhstan | $77,778,000 | -46.8% |
| 54 | Bulgaria | $68,406,000 | +59.4% |
| 55 | Croatia | $61,302,000 | +55% |
| 56 | Oman | $51,453,000 | +52.5% |
| 57 | Saudi Arabia | $43,656,000 | -15.2% |
| 58 | Ireland | $43,372,000 | -36% |
| 59 | Yemen | $43,287,000 | +785.2% |
| 60 | Serbia | $42,509,000 | -1.2% |
| 61 | Madagascar | $40,722,000 | -19.2% |
| 62 | Singapore | $39,534,000 | -9.9% |
| 63 | Zambia | $36,956,000 | +61.8% |
| 64 | Iceland | $36,495,000 | -38.8% |
| 65 | New Caledonia | $32,553,000 | -37.6% |
| 66 | Mozambique | $30,634,000 | +33.7% |
| 67 | Denmark | $27,018,000 | -50.7% |
| 68 | Peru | $26,922,000 | -21.7% |
| 69 | Togo | $21,117,000 | -26.6% |
| 70 | Kyrgyzstan | $18,928,000 | -4.7% |
| 71 | Moldova | $18,824,000 | +38.8% |
| 72 | Romania | $18,164,000 | -64.1% |
| 73 | Djibouti | $18,072,000 | -14.2% |
| 74 | Honduras | $17,812,000 | +380.2% |
| 75 | Kuwait | $17,104,000 | -58.6% |
| 76 | Benin | $16,649,000 | -7.3% |
| 77 | Georgia | $16,276,000 | +19.5% |
| 78 | Australia | $15,728,000 | -36% |
| 79 | Lithuania | $15,317,000 | -46.9% |
| 80 | Bahrain | $15,162,000 | +37.2% |
| 81 | Uganda | $15,102,000 | +56.7% |
| 82 | Hungary | $14,367,000 | -70.8% |
| 83 | Mexico | $13,906,000 | -27.9% |
| 84 | Eswatini | $11,918,000 | +26.1% |
| 85 | Malawi | $10,349,000 | +46.8% |
| 86 | Rwanda | $9,460,000 | +8.7% |
| 87 | Albania | $9,208,000 | +547.5% |
| 88 | Congo | $8,695,000 | +235.3% |
| 89 | Marshall Islands | $7,894,000 | 0% |
| 90 | Greece | $7,724,000 | -45.8% |
| 91 | British Indian Ocean Terr | $7,500,000 | 0% |
| 92 | Montenegro | $7,183,000 | 0% |
| 93 | Luxembourg | $6,415,000 | +10.8% |
| 94 | Slovenia | $5,965,000 | +41.7% |
| 95 | Syria | $5,893,000 | +146.1% |
| 96 | Jamaica | $5,772,000 | +87.1% |
| 97 | Laos | $5,682,000 | -39.7% |
| 98 | Lebanon | $5,660,000 | +133.7% |
| 99 | Panama | $5,460,000 | +3074% |
| 100 | Ivory Coast | $5,442,000 | +6789% |
Enlarging the scope to the top 100 coal buyers from international markets, the fastest-growing spenders on imported coal from 2024 to 2025 were Africa’s Ivory Coast (up 6,789%), Panama (up 3,074%), Yemen (up 785.2%), Albania (up 547.5%) then Honduras (up 380.2%).
Major Coal and Related Imports into India
India’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$26.8 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2025. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Indonesia: US$6.5 billion (down -24.5% from 2024)
- Australia: $6.1 billion (down -24.4%)
- Russia: $3.5 billion (up 2.4%)
- United States: $3.1 billion (down -13.5%)
- South Africa: $3 billion (down -3.7%)
- Singapore: $1.9 billion (down -10.2%)
- Mozambique: $1.1 billion (down -11.6%)
- United Arab Emirates: $642 million (up 43.4%)
- Canada: $252.7 million (down -60.2%)
- Switzerland: $220.5 million (down -29.1%)
- Colombia: $193.4 million (down -10.7%)
- Hong Kong: $86.6 million (down -13.5%)
- Tanzania: $83.1 million (up 185.4%)
- New Zealand: $45.2 million (down -17.7%)
- mainland China: $33.8 million (down -25.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.8% of coal imported by India in 2025.
Among the above countries, growth suppliers of coal to India from 2024 to 2025 were: Tanzania (up 185.4%), United Arab Emirates (up 43.4%) and Russia (up 2.4%).
Countries that experienced year-over-year declines in the value of their coal supplied to Indian importers included: Canada (down -60.2%), Switzerland (down -29.1%), mainland China (down -25.4%) and Indonesia (down -24.5%).
Overall, the value of India’s imported coal retreated by an average -16.3% from all supplying countries since 2024 when coal purchased cost $32 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into China
Mainland China’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$26.76 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2025. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Russia: US$7.7 billion (down -26.3% from 2024)
- Australia: $7.2 billion (down -24.1%)
- Mongolia: $5.4 billion (down -34.9%)
- Indonesia: $3.8 billion (down -42.8%)
- Canada: $1.9 billion (down -15.1%)
- United States: $400.5 million (down -79.9%)
- Kazakhstan: $102.2 million (up 51.8%)
- South Africa: $56.6 million (down -33.3%)
- New Zealand: $46.5 million (up 17.1%)
- Colombia: $38.4 million (down -95.5%)
- Mozambique: $26.5 million (down -85.1%)
- Vietnam: $6.5 million (down -63.2%)
- Tanzania: $5.8 million (down -48%)
- Laos: $5.3 million (down -43.4%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $4 million (down -39.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9999% of coal imported by mainland China in 2025.
Among the above countries, the growth suppliers of coal to China from 2024 to 2025 were: Kazakhstan (up 51.8%) and New Zealand (up 17.1%).
Countries that experienced year-over-year declines in the value of their coal supplied to Chinese importers included: Colombia (down -95.5%), Mozambique (down -85.1%), United States of America (down -79.9%) and Vietnam (down -63.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported coal reduced by an average -34% from all supplying countries since 2024 when coal purchased cost $40.5 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$22.3 billion in 2025. Below are the top suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2025. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Australia: US$14.9 billion (down -24.2% from 2024)
- Indonesia: $3.4 billion (down -22.3%)
- United States: $1.5 billion (down -37%)
- Canada: $1.4 billion (down -35.8%)
- South Africa: $459.8 million (up 1.7%)
- Colombia: $156.8 million (down -48.1%)
- Russia: $155.2 million (down -19.1%)
- mainland China: $75.7 million (up 1.4%)
- Vietnam: $70.2 million (down -12.6%)
- Mozambique: $67.3 million (up 366.7%)
- Kazakhstan: $67.2 million (up 46%)
- New Zealand: $46.5 million (down -43.4%)
- Peru: $3.2 million (down -69%)
- Taiwan: $570,000 (up 6.3%)
- Thailand: $86,000 (2024 data unavailable)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9999% of coal imported by Japan in 2025.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to Japan from 2024 to 2025 were: Mozambique (up 366.7%), Kazakhstan (up 46%), Taiwan (up 6.3%) and South Africa (up 1.7%).
Countries that experienced year-over-year declines in the value of their coal supplied to Japanese importers included: Peru (down -69%), Colombia (down -48.1%), New Zealand (down -43.4%) and the United States of America (down -37%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s imported coal slipped by an average -25.3% from all supplying countries since 2024 when coal purchased cost $29.9 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into South Korea
South Korea’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$12.4 billion in 2025. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which South Korea imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2025. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2024 to 2025.
- Australia: US$4.8 billion (down -22.2% from 2024)
- Indonesia: $2.18 billion (down -17.6%)
- Russia: $2.17 billion (down -5.1%)
- Canada: $1.2 billion (down -37.3%)
- Colombia: $748.7 million (down -31.7%)
- United States: $449.8 million (down -27%)
- South Africa: $347.9 million (down -50.8%)
- Mozambique: $250.8 million (down -47%)
- mainland China: $124.2 million (down -36%)
- Peru: $61.1 million (down -31%)
- New Zealand: $41.5 million (down -28.4%)
- Philippines: $17.4 million (down -67.7%)
- Vietnam: $4.8 million (up 12.4%)
- Japan: $8,000 (2024 data unavailable)
- Malaysia: $7,000 (2024 data unavailable)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9999% of coal imported by South Korea in 2025.
Among the above countries, the lone growth supplier of coal to South Korea from 2024 to 2025 was Vietnam based on a 12.4% upturn.
Countries that experienced year-over-year declines in the value of their coal supplied to Korean importers included: Philippines (down -67.7%), South Africa (down -50.8%), Mozambique (down -47%) and Canada (down -37.3%).
Overall, the value of South Korea’s imported coal fell by an average -24.5% from all supplying countries since 2024 when coal purchased cost $16.4 billion.
See also Average Coal Prices Compared for Top Coal Exporters by Country, Coal Exports by Country, Japan’s Top Trading Partners and Japan’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 10, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 10, 2025
Wikipedia, Coal. Accessed on July 10, 2025
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