Asia's Thermal Coal Imports Continue to Rebound, Except for India
Asia boosted imports of thermal coal for a third straight month in July as major buyers such as China, Japan and South Korea bought more of the fuel to meet peak summer demand.
Asia, which buys about 90% of global seaborne thermal coal, is expected to import 73.16 million metric tons in July, up from 70.31 million in June and also above the 71.04 million from July last year, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler.
Thermal coal, used mainly to generate electricity, is experiencing stronger demand in Asia this year as it remains a cheaper alternative to liquefied natural gas. The Iran war has largely cut off shipments from Qatar, supplier of about 20% of the world's LNG, leading to a surge in spot prices.
Thermal coal
China, the world's biggest coal importer, is leading the charge, with data from analysts DBX Commodities showing thermal coal arrivals of 28.14 million tons in July, the most this year and up from 25.67 million in June and 24.1 million in July 2025.
Thermal coal doesn't compete with LNG in China as far as power generation is concerned. Rather, the increase in imports is being driven by constrained domestic output coupled with rising electricity generation.
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White House Looks to Coal for Power at Home, Exports Abroad
While America’s pursuit of rare earth metals makes the most headlines, the Trump administration turned the spotlight on the nation’s biggest mining export success:
Coal.
For rare earths, the primary challenge is building domestic processing capacity to reduce dependence on Chinese refiners. That effort is expected to require years of investment in new facilities, technology and workforce development.
Coal, by contrast, already has an established production and export infrastructure. The National Coal Council contends that policy changes focused on transportation and export capacity could increase U.S. shipments to international markets in the near term.
On July 21, the National Coal Council presented Energy Secretary Chris Wright with two reports addressing the nation’s coal-generating fleet and opportunities to expand coal exports. The council, which President Donald Trump revived after it was terminated under President Joe Biden, includes representatives from coal producers, utilities and related industries.
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Energy Secretary Secures Grid Across 17 States Amid Period of Hot Weather
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order to keep Americans across 17 states powered during the region’s energy emergency brought on by hot weather conditions. The order directs the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) to dispatch specified generation units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability. The order also authorizes SPP to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3 or during an EEA 3. The order was issued pursuant to a request from SPP.
“The Trump Administration is tapping into an abundant supply of unused backup generation to maintain affordable, reliable, and secure power for hardworking American families and businesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during emergency events. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to ensure Americans have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes.”
Chris Wright
DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts (GW) of unused backup generation remain available nationwide.
On day one of his second term, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration’s energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts.
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NIOSH to Bring Black Lung Screenings to West Virginia's Mylan Park This Month
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is coming to Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia to offer free, confidential black lung screenings for coal miners.
All coal miners, current, former, underground, surface, and those under contract are welcome July 28 through 30 at Mylan Park. from. The screenings allow early detection of the disease.
Screenings will be available Tuesday, July 28 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 29, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Thursday from July 30, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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America’s Untapped Export Potential
America has the world’s largest coal reserves. It’s an extraordinary competitive advantage and a remarkable opportunity as global coal demand grows and nations scramble for energy security as the conflict with Iran continues. But U.S. coal exports – and our market share of global coal trade – remain far below what our vast resources suggest they should be.
A new report from the National Coal Council, “Outlook and Opportunities for U.S. Coal Exports,” tells an important story about a thriving industry but one with vast untapped potential – potential than can be quickly realized with the right policy framework.
As the report highlights, in 2025, the U.S. exported 93 million short tons of coal creating more than $10 billion in revenue and 36,000-plus jobs. But with abundant resources and growing demand abroad, the U.S. could be exporting far more.
“American coal should be dominating the global markets, and with improved infrastructure and fairer market access, it can,” said Jimmy Brock, NCC Vice Chair and Chairman and CEO of Core Natural Resources, who led the development of the report.
One of the key findings of the report is the urgent need for dramatically expanded West Coast port capacity. The Asia-Pacific region now accounts for 85% of global coal imports but the U.S lacks any significant West Coast export capacity, forcing producers to rely on East Coast and Gulf terminals, putting them at a significant disadvantage to international competitors.
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