U.S. Coal Consumption Jumps 10% in 2025, Leading Global Increase by 0.80 EJ
Updated
Updated · Visual Capitalist · Aug 11
U.S. Coal Consumption Jumps 10% in 2025, Leading Global Increase by 0.80 EJ
3 articles · Updated · Visual Capitalist · Aug 11
Summary
U.S. coal consumption rose by 0.80 exajoules to 8.73 EJ in 2025, the largest increase of any country and a sharp reversal from a 3.4% decline in 2024.
Colder winter weather lifted natural gas demand and prices, making coal-fired power more economical; U.S. coal generation increased by 93.2 TWh while gas-fired generation fell by 61.8 TWh.
Indonesia posted the second-largest increase at 0.43 EJ to 5.15 EJ, while China—the biggest coal consumer—held flat at 92.24 EJ and cut imports by 10%.
Five countries—China, India, the U.S., Indonesia and Japan—accounted for 80% of global coal consumption in 2025, underscoring how demand is concentrating in a handful of major economies.
Europe moved the other way, with coal demand down 3.1% and supply down 6.3% as plant retirements and renewable expansion extended its long-term decline.