That dollar cost for worldwide coal imports reflects a 63.8% increase since 2019 when imported coal cost $134 billion but a -24.1% drop from 2022 when globally imported coal amounted to $289.1 billion in international spending.
The top 5 importers of coal are Japan, mainland China, India, South Korea and Taiwan. Collectively, that cohort of leading coal importers bought over two-thirds (69.3%) of the worldwide coal total.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2023 with purchases amounting to $182.4 billion or over four-fifths (83.1%) of the worldwide total. In second place were European importers at 11.6%.
Smaller percentages were sold to buyers in Latin America (2.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.5%), North America (0.8%), then Oceania (0.1%) led by New Caledonia and Australia.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2701 for coal and similar solid fuels made from coal. About two-thirds (66.4%) of worldwide imported coal contains bitumen, while less than one percent (0.06%) was coal briquettes or similar solid fuels.
Coal Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2023.
- Japan: US$41.8 billion (19.1% of total imported coal)
- mainland China: $41.4 billion (18.8%)
- India: $37.1 billion (16.9%)
- South Korea: $20.1 billion (9.1%)
- Taiwan: $11.8 billion (5.4%)
- Germany: $7.1 billion (3.2%)
- Türkiye: $5.5 billion (2.5%)
- Malaysia: $5.2 billion (2.4%)
- Vietnam: $4.7 billion (2.1%)
- Philippines: $4.1 billion (1.9%)
- Brazil: $4 billion (1.8%)
- Poland: $3.6 billion (1.6%)
- Indonesia: $3.4 billion (1.6%)
- Netherlands: $2.4 billion (1.1%)
- Italy: $2 billion (0.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 88.4% of all spending on coal imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the lone growth market for coal from 2022 to 2023 was mainland China via its 36.6% upturn.
Those countries that posted declines in their imported coal purchases were led by: Italy (down -51.8% from 2022), Germany (down -45.8%), Poland (down -36.7%) and the Philippines (down -32.5%).
Major Coal and Related Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$41.8 billion in 2023. Below are the top suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Australia: US$27.2 billion (down -32.5% from 2022)
- Indonesia: $5.9 billion (down -28%)
- Canada: $3.4 billion (down -8.3%)
- United States of America: $3 billion (up 13.9%)
- Russia: $806.7 million (down -77.2%)
- South Africa: $718.7 million (up 102%)
- Colombia: $398.9 million (down -13%)
- Vietnam: $147.5 million (down -1.9%)
- mainland China: $121.6 million (down -35.4%)
- New Zealand: $76.7 million (down -34.9%)
- Mozambique: $25.1 million (down -56.1%)
- Philippines: $18.8 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Peru: $12.1 million (up 43.1%)
- Kazakhstan: $2.5 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Taiwan: $686,000 (up 21.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped virtually 100% of coal imported by Japan in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to Japan from 2022 to 2023 were: South Africa (up 102%), Peru (up 43.1%), Taiwan (up 21.4%) and the United States of America (up 13.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Japanese importers included: Russia (down -77.2% from 2022), Mozambique (down -56.1%), mainland China (down -35.4%) and New Zealand (down -34.9%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s imported coal slipped by an average -29.9% from all supplying countries since 2022 when coal purchased cost $59.7 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into China
Mainland China’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$41.4 billion in 2023. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Russia: US$14.3 billion (up 21.9% from 2022)
- Mongolia: $8.4 billion (up 67.2%)
- Indonesia: $7.3 billion (down -3.2%)
- Australia: $6.4 billion (up 1,717%)
- Canada: $2.3 billion (down -29.1%)
- United States of America: $1.5 billion (down -18.5%)
- Colombia: $554.3 million (up 415.4%)
- South Africa: $247.7 million (up 0.4%)
- Mozambique: $171.3 million (up 180.2%)
- Kazakhstan: $80.2 million (up 371.5%)
- Vietnam: $55.4 million (up 32.9%)
- New Zealand: $34.7 million (down -12.7%)
- Ukraine: $28 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Malaysia: $18.2 million (up 175.2%)
- Iran: $16.9 million (down -54.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.95% of coal imported by mainland China in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to China from 2022 to 2023 were: Australia (up 1,717%), Colombia (up 415.4%), Kazakhstan (up 371.5%) and Mozambique (up 180.2%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Chinese importers included: Iran (down -54.6% from 2022), Canada (down -29.1%), United States of America (down -18.5%) and New Zealand (down -12.7%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported coal grew by an average 36.6% from all supplying countries since 2022 when coal purchased cost $30.3 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into India
India’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$37.1 billion in 2023. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Australia: US$11.2 billion (down -27.5% from 2022)
- Indonesia: $9.3 billion (down -35.6%)
- United States of America: $4.04 billion (up 3.9%)
- Russia: $4.03 billion (down -5.8%)
- South Africa: $3.3 billion (down -16.9%)
- Singapore: $2 billion (down -30.6%)
- Mozambique: $1.3 billion (down -26.8%)
- Canada: $810.1 million (down -17.9%)
- United Arab Emirates: $417.8 million (down -16.8%)
- Switzerland: $374.4 million (down -8.9%)
- New Zealand: $71.8 million (up 16.6%)
- Netherlands: $31.7 million (up 529033.3%)
- Spain: $30 million (2022 data unavailable)
- mainland China: $26 million (down -67.8%)
- United Kingdom: $25.3 million (down -27.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.7% of coal imported by India in 2023.
Among the above countries, the growing suppliers of coal to India from 2022 to 2023 were: Netherlands (up 529,033%), New Zealand (up 16.6%) and the United States of America (up 3.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Indian importers included: mainland China (down -67.8% from 2022), Indonesia (down -35.6%), Singapore (down -30.6%) and Australia (down -27.5%).
Overall, the value of India’s imported coal fell by an average -24.3% from all supplying countries since 2022 when coal purchased cost $49 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into South Korea
South Korea’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$20.1 billion in 2023. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which South Korea imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Australia: US$7.6 billion (down -38.7% from 2022)
- Russia: $4.4 billion (down -22.3%)
- Indonesia: $2.7 billion (down -22.9%)
- Canada: $1.8 billion (down -32.4%)
- South Africa: $1.1 billion (down -15.9%)
- Colombia: $736.3 million (up 81.4%)
- United States of America: $730.8 million (down -17.1%)
- Mozambique: $487.1 million (down -11.1%)
- Philippines: $231.7 million (down -18.4%)
- mainland China: $92 million (down -45.9%)
- New Zealand: $66.9 million (down -20.2%)
- Peru: $61.3 million (up 3.6%)
- Vietnam: $7.6 million (down -85.5%)
- Kazakhstan: $1,000 (2022 data unavailable)
- Mexico: $1,000 (down -50%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped virtually 100% of coal imported by South Korea in 2023.
Among the above countries, the growing suppliers of coal to South Korea from 2022 to 2023 were: Colombia (up 81.4%) and Peru (up 3.6%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Korean importers included: Vietnam (down -85.5% from 2022), Mexico (down -50%), maInland China (down -45.9%) and Australia (down -38.7%).
Overall, the value of South Korea’s imported coal retreated by an average -28.7% from all supplying countries since 2022 when coal purchased cost $28.2 billion.
Searchable List of Coal Importing Countries in 2023
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. The right-most column highlights the percentage change in value from 2022 to 2023
An entry of 0% in that column means that no value for 2022 was available.
| Rank | Importer | Coal Imports | 2022-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Japan | $41,839,279,000 | -29.9% |
| 2. | mainland China | $41,356,320,000 | +36.6% |
| 3. | India | $37,084,936,000 | -24.3% |
| 4. | South Korea | $20,072,226,000 | -28.7% |
| 5. | Taiwan | $11,755,837,000 | -28.1% |
| 6. | Germany | $7,056,528,000 | -45.8% |
| 7. | Türkiye | $5,529,525,000 | -32.3% |
| 8. | Malaysia | $5,203,756,000 | -25.8% |
| 9. | Vietnam | $4,684,365,000 | -29.3% |
| 10. | Philippines | $4,079,385,000 | -32.5% |
| 11. | Brazil | $4,032,399,000 | -27.3% |
| 12. | Poland | $3,581,043,000 | -36.7% |
| 13. | Indonesia | $3,411,265,000 | -5.8% |
| 14. | Netherlands | $2,350,631,000 | -19.8% |
| 15. | Italy | $2,025,782,000 | -51.8% |
| 16. | France | $1,804,909,000 | -36.4% |
| 17. | Thailand | $1,749,157,000 | -35.5% |
| 18. | Spain | $1,519,374,000 | -47.5% |
| 19. | Morocco | $1,384,114,000 | -33.7% |
| 20. | Belgium | $1,206,907,000 | -34.4% |
| 21. | Chile | $1,192,940,000 | -60.5% |
| 22. | Bangladesh | $1,186,916,000 | -4.3% |
| 23. | Canada | $1,093,150,000 | +8.1% |
| 24. | Czech Republic | $1,000,213,000 | -26.8% |
| 25. | Slovakia | $863,023,000 | -19.7% |
| 26. | Pakistan | $815,780,000 | -62.9% |
| 27. | Hong Kong | $806,355,000 | -48.3% |
| 28. | Israel | $772,751,000 | -61% |
| 29. | Austria | $701,250,000 | -26.7% |
| 30. | United Kingdom | $646,564,000 | -66.8% |
| 31. | United States | $592,891,000 | -22.1% |
| 32. | Egypt | $587,049,000 | +27.6% |
| 33. | Sweden | $562,364,000 | -27.1% |
| 34. | Cambodia | $557,970,000 | +0.5% |
| 35. | South Africa | $521,131,000 | +0.9% |
| 36. | Sri Lanka | $480,531,000 | +32.5% |
| 37. | Finland | $452,424,000 | -66.2% |
| 38. | Dominican Republic | $393,212,000 | -40.2% |
| 39. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $330,143,000 | -32.4% |
| 40. | Argentina | $308,531,000 | -44.4% |
| 41. | United Arab Emirates | $299,092,000 | +6.9% |
| 42. | Norway | $235,844,000 | -18.4% |
| 43. | Guatemala | $228,992,000 | -37% |
| 44. | Ireland | $191,535,000 | -52.2% |
| 45. | Ukraine | $185,367,000 | -84.3% |
| 46. | Russia | $146,561,000 | -32.7% |
| 47. | New Caledonia | $145,993,000 | -62.8% |
| 48. | Brunei Darussalam | $135,049,000 | -27.1% |
| 49. | Democratic Rep. Congo | $133,867,000 | +25.2% |
| 50. | Nepal | $132,112,000 | -48.5% |
| 51. | Kenya | $128,855,000 | -6.7% |
| 52. | Ethiopia | $114,103,000 | +5.1% |
| 53. | Hungary | $105,849,000 | -65.8% |
| 54. | Bulgaria | $101,486,000 | -72.1% |
| 55. | Croatia | $98,619,000 | -55.3% |
| 56. | Kazakhstan | $96,091,000 | +20.7% |
| 57. | Mauritius | $94,409,000 | -44.7% |
| 58. | Singapore | $78,705,000 | -32.4% |
| 59. | Uzbekistan | $72,063,000 | +92.8% |
| 60. | Romania | $71,316,000 | -63% |
| 61. | Panama | $69,807,000 | -18.8% |
| 62. | Madagascar | $65,521,000 | -48.1% |
| 63. | Serbia | $60,414,000 | -22.7% |
| 64. | Senegal | $57,966,000 | -69% |
| 65. | Iceland | $56,349,000 | -34% |
| 66. | Djibouti | $53,768,000 | +58.9% |
| 67. | Peru | $53,160,000 | -52.6% |
| 68. | Kyrgyzstan | $48,153,000 | +119.8% |
| 69. | Saudi Arabia | $43,989,000 | -39.8% |
| 70. | Australia | $39,108,000 | -24.2% |
| 71. | Togo | $28,187,000 | -44.6% |
| 72. | North Macedonia | $27,740,000 | +4.4% |
| 73. | Mozambique | $25,845,000 | +21.9% |
| 74. | Benin | $24,876,000 | +5.7% |
| 75. | Lithuania | $24,740,000 | -68.3% |
| 76. | Georgia | $23,897,000 | +15.3% |
| 77. | St Vincent /Grenadines | $22,564,000 | +107348% |
| 78. | Zambia | $20,693,000 | +43.9% |
| 79. | Denmark | $19,519,000 | +68.7% |
| 80. | Oman | $18,419,000 | -69.2% |
| 81. | Moldova | $18,301,000 | -50.8% |
| 82. | Montenegro | $18,239,000 | 0% |
| 83. | Yemen | $16,626,000 | -49.7% |
| 84. | Greece | $16,457,000 | -48.9% |
| 85. | Liberia | $15,499,000 | +221314% |
| 86. | Eswatini | $15,489,000 | +41.2% |
| 87. | Trinidad/Tobago | $15,182,000 | +11761% |
| 88. | Mexico | $14,845,000 | -86.3% |
| 89. | Congo | $14,580,000 | +405.4% |
| 90. | Honduras | $14,208,000 | -32.4% |
| 91. | Myanmar | $12,931,000 | +83.2% |
| 92. | Iran | $11,890,000 | -96.7% |
| 93. | Luxembourg | $11,154,000 | -3.7% |
| 94. | Latvia | $9,894,000 | -68.6% |
| 95. | Switzerland | $9,399,000 | -39% |
| 96. | Bhutan | $7,817,000 | +11.4% |
| 97. | Ecuador | $7,513,000 | -48.4% |
| 98. | Uganda | $7,218,000 | -40.9% |
| 99. | Colombia | $7,214,000 | +767.1% |
| 100. | Albania | $6,498,000 | 0% |
Enlarging the scope to the top 100 coal buyers from international markets, the fastest-growing spenders on imported coal from 2022 to 2023 were Liberia (up 221,314%), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (up 107,348%), Trinidad and Tobago (up 11,761%), Colombia (up 767.1%) then Congo (up 405.4%).
See also Average Coal Prices Compared for Top Coal Exporters by Country, Coal Exports by Country, Japan’s Top Trading Partners and Japan’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 21, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 21, 2024
Wikipedia, Coal. Accessed on July 21, 2024
