In-brief analysis

February 4, 2025

Gross U.S. coal exports in June 2024 totaled 10 million short tons, the most in a month since October 2018, data from our Short-Term Energy Outlook data browser show. Annual average U.S. coal exports were 9.0 million short tons in 2024. U.S. coal exports have increased each year since 2020, when they averaged 5.8 million short tons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. coal exports consist of both steam coal and metallurgical coal that are produced in the United States and sent to other countries. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used by coal-fired power plants to generate electricity and by consumers to heat their homes or businesses. Metallurgical coal is used mainly to produce steel, so demand for metallurgical coal closely follows demand for steel.

In our Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast that U.S. coal exports will exceed 10.0 million short tons in only two months during 2025 and 2026—in December of each year.

Principal contributors: Kimberly Peterson, Kristen Tsai