U.S. Coal Exports Increased by 61% in 2017 as Exports to Asia More Than Doubled

The United States exported 97.0 million short tons (MMst) of coal in 2017, a 61% (36.7 MMst) increase from the 2016 level.  Exports to Asia more than doubled from 15.7 MMst in 2016 to 32.8 MMst in 2017, although Europe continues to be the largest recipient of U.S. coal exports.

Steam coal, which is used to generate electricity, accounted for most of the increase in 2017 coal exports.  India, South Korea, and Japan were three of the top five recipients of U.S. steam coal exports in 2017.  India, the largest importer of steam coal from the United States, imported 7.6 MMst of steam coal from the United States in 2017—nearly three times as much as in 2016—mainly to fuel growing electricity capacity in the country.

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