Coal news and updates

In its medium-term coal market report for 2016, IEA reports that global coal demand growth has stalled after more than a decade of 4 percent annual growth, with demand in 2016 to be below 2013 levels. Consumption decreased for the first time in 2015 as declines in the U.S. and China were not offset by growth elsewhere.

 

China saw coal use decline in all major consuming sectors; electricity, steel, and cement. Coal generation dropped due to sluggish 0.5 percent electricity demand growth and the country’s diversification policy, which led to growth in hydro, nuclear, wind, solar, and natural gas power generation growth.

 

Coal use in the U.S. plummeted due to low natural gas prices and coal plant retirements pushed by the Mercury Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Overall U.S. coal consumption dropped 15 percent, the largest annual decline ever.

Source: Oilprice.com