The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that global coal consumption will reach a record high of 8.85 billion tons in 2025, marking a 0.5 percent increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed mainly to higher natural gas prices and policies in the United States that have slowed the phase-out of coal-fired power plants. While coal use in the European Union has declined, the drop was less pronounced than in the past two years. India also saw a reduction, but demand in China, responsible for 56 percent of global coal consumption, remained steady.

Looking ahead to 2026, the IEA expects a decline in worldwide coal demand driven by the expansion of renewable energy sources, increased nuclear power, and growing liquefied natural gas production. These developments suggest a potential shift away from coal dependency in the near future.