Coal Facts 2013

Based on 2012 IEA and BP data published in 2013

Coal provides 29.9% of global primary energy needs and generates 41% of the world's
electricity. It is also used in the production of 70% of the worlds steel.
Total world coal production reached a record level of 7830Mt in 2012. This represents an
annual growth of 2.9%.
Total Global Coal Production (including hard coal and lignite)

7830Mt (2012e)
7608Mt (2011)
4677Mt (1990)
Top Ten Coal Producers (2012e)
PR China
USA
India
Indonesia
Australia

3549Mt
935Mt
595Mt
443Mt
421Mt

Russia
South Africa
Germany
Poland
Kazakhstan

359Mt
259Mt
197Mt
144Mt
126Mt

Top Ten Steam Coal Producers (2012e)

PR China
USA
India
Indonesia
South Africa

3039Mt
782Mt
504Mt
440Mt
258Mt

Russia
Australia
Kazakhstan
Colombia
Poland

201Mt
200Mt
108Mt
85Mt
68Mt

Top Ten Coking Coal Producers (2012e)

PR China
Australia
USA
Russia
India

510Mt
147Mt
81Mt
75Mt
47Mt

Canada
Mongolia
Ukraine
Kazakhstan
Poland

31Mt
21Mt
18Mt
13Mt
12Mt

World Coal Association, 5th Floor Heddon House, 149-151 Regent Street, London, W1B 4JD
t: +44 (0) 20 7851 0052 f: +44 (0) 20 7851 0061 e: info@worldcoal.org www.worldcoal.org

Total Global Brown Coal/Lignite Production

905Mt (2012e)
911Mt (2011)
1184Mt (1990)
Top Ten Brown Coal Producers (2012e)
Germany
Russia
Australia
USA
Turkey

185Mt
78Mt
73Mt
72Mt
66Mt

Poland
Greece
Czech Republic
India
Serbia

64Mt
62Mt
43Mt
43Mt
38Mt

Reserves
There are two internationally recognised methods for assessing world coal reserves. The first
one is produced by the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
(BGR) and is used by the IEA as the main source of information about coal reserves. The
second one is produced by the World Energy Council (WEC) and is used by the BP
Statistical Review of World Energy.
According to BGR there are 1038 billion tonnes of coal reserves left, equivalent to 132 years
of global coal output in 2012. Coal reserves reported by the BP are much lower - 861 billion
tonnes, equivalent to 109 years of coal output.
Coal in Electricity Generation
Mongolia
South Africa
Poland
PR China

98%
94%
86%
81%

Australia
India
Israel
Indonesia

69%
68%
59%
44%

Germany
USA
UK
Japan

43%
43%
29%
27%

Coal & Steel

Approximately 13% (over 1 billion tonnes) of total coal production is currently used by the
steel industry and around 70% of total global steel production is dependent on coal.
World Coal Trade
2010
2011
2012

Steam
789Mt
857Mt
963Mt

Coking
282Mt
283Mt
290Mt

Lignite
5Mt
4Mt
3Mt

Top Coal Exporters (2012e)

Indonesia
Australia
Russia
USA

Total of which
383Mt
301Mt
134Mt
114Mt

Steam
380Mt
159Mt
116Mt
51Mt

Coking
3Mt
142Mt
18Mt
63Mt

World Coal Association, 5th Floor Heddon House, 149-151 Regent Street, London, W1B 4JD
t: +44 (0) 20 7851 0052 f: +44 (0) 20 7851 0061 e: info@worldcoal.org www.worldcoal.org

Colombia
South Africa
Canada

Total of which
82Mt
74Mt
35Mt

Steam
82Mt
74Mt
4Mt

Coking
0Mt
0Mt
31Mt

Top Coal Importers (2012e)

PR China
Japan
India
South Korea
Chinese Taipei
Germany
UK

Total of which
289Mt
184Mt
160Mt
125Mt
64Mt
45Mt
45Mt

Steam
218Mt
132Mt
123Mt
94Mt
56Mt
36Mt
40Mt

Coking
71Mt
52Mt
37Mt
31Mt
8Mt
9Mt
5Mt

Source: 2013 Edition of the IEA Coal Information, 2013 Edition of the BP Statistical Review of World Energy

September 2013

World Coal Association, 5th Floor Heddon House, 149-151 Regent Street, London, W1B 4JD
t: +44 (0) 20 7851 0052 f: +44 (0) 20 7851 0061 e: info@worldcoal.org www.worldcoal.org