From a continental perspective, Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2018 with purchases amounting to $112.6 billion or 74.1% of the worldwide total. In second place were European importers at 19.6%.
Smaller percentages were sold to Latin America (3.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (1.5%), Africa (1.4%) and Oceania (0.1%) led by New Caledonia.
The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2701 for coal and similar solid fuels made from coal.
Coal Imports by Country
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2018.
- Japan: US$25.4 billion (16.7% of total coal imports)
- India: $24.6 billion (16.2%)
- China: $19.6 billion (12.9%)
- South Korea: $16.5 billion (10.9%)
- Taiwan: $8.1 billion (5.3%)
- Netherlands: $5.9 billion (3.9%)
- Germany: $5.7 billion (3.7%)
- Turkey: $4.4 billion (2.9%)
- Brazil: $3.4 billion (2.2%)
- Malaysia: $3.2 billion (2.1%)
- Ukraine: $3 billion (2%)
- Poland: $2.2 billion (1.5%)
- France: $2.1 billion (1.4%)
- Vietnam: $1.9 billion (1.2%)
- Philippines: $1.8 billion (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 84.1% of all coal imports in 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage of overall global coal shipments.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for coal since 2014 were: Vietnam (up 700.5%), Turkey (up 431%), Philippines (up 142.7%) and Poland (up 110.5%).
Japan
Coal Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$25.4 billion in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Australia: US$15.6 billion (up 22.9% from 2014)
- Indonesia: $3.1 billion (down -1.2%)
- Russia: $2.4 billion (up 58.5%)
- United States: $1.8 billion (up 154.6%)
- Canada: $1.6 billion (up 32.1%)
- China: $305.3 million (up 8.8%)
- Colombia: $241 million (up 1,393%)
- Mozambique: $127.1 million (up 510.3%)
- Vietnam: $115.4 million (up 23.2%)
- New Zealand: $36.7 million (up 52%)
- South Africa: $16.4 million (down -23.9%)
- Mexico: $9 million (no 2014 data)
- Thailand: $3 million (no 2014 data)
- Taiwan: $551,000 (up 111.1%)
- South Korea: $51,000 (down -87.5%)
The listed 15 countries shipped very close to 100% of all Japanese coal imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to Japan since 2014 were: Colombia (up 1,393%), Mozambique (up 510.3%), United States (up 154.6%) and Taiwan (up 111.1%).
Three countries experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Japanese importers namely: South Korea (down -87.5%), South Africa (down -23.9%) and Indonesia (down -1.2%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s coal imports rose by an average 28.4% from all supplying countries since 2014 when coal purchases were valued at $19.7 billion.
India
Coal Imports into India
India’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$24.6 billion in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Australia: US$9.3 billion (up 72.4% from 2014)
- Indonesia: $6.9 billion (down -4.9%)
- South Africa: $3 billion (up 33.2%)
- United States: $2.1 billion (up 302.6%)
- Canada: $868.6 million (up 275.6%)
- Mozambique: $814.3 million (up 245.5%)
- Russia: $593 million (up 373%)
- Singapore: $522.5 million (no 2014 data)
- United Arab Emirates: $98.1 million (up 3,486%)
- New Zealand: $90.9 million (down -26.3%)
- Switzerland: $80.4 million (up 4,339%)
- Colombia: $49.2 million (no 2014 data)
- Vietnam: $43.4 million (up 484.2%)
- Latvia: $39.2 million (up 21,426%)
- Finland: $27.5 million (no 2014 data)
The listed 15 countries shipped 99.7% of all Indian coal imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to India since 2014 were: Latvia (up 21,426%), Switzerland (up 4,339%), United Arab Emirates (up 3,486%) and Vietnam (up 484.2%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Indian importers namely: New Zealand (down -26.3%) and Indonesia (down -4.9%).
Overall, the value of India’s coal imports expanded by an average 50.1% from all supplying countries since 2014 when coal purchases were valued at $16.4 billion.
China
Coal Imports into China
China’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$19.6 billion in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Australia: US$10.5 billion (up 16.5% from 2014)
- Mongolia: $2.8 billion (up 198%)
- Indonesia: $2.8 billion (down -14.2%)
- Russia: $2.5 billion (up 14.4%)
- Canada: $527.1 million (down -46.4%)
- United States: $381 million (down -2.5%)
- Colombia: $28.5 million (up 123.7%)
- New Zealand: $22.3 million (down -60.5%)
- Malaysia: $21.2 million (up 260%)
- Vietnam: $17.1 million (down -96.1%)
- Iran: $5.4 million (up 59.3%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $2.5 million (up 940%)
- Laos: $865,000 (up 72.7%)
- Germany: $54,000 (no 2014 data)
- China: $37,000 (no 2014 data)
The listed 15 countries shipped 99.9997% of all Chinese coal imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to China since 2014 were: Kyrgyzstan (up 940%), Malaysia (up 260%), Mongolia (up 198%) and Colombia (up 123.7%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Chinese importers included: Vietnam (down -96.1%), New Zealand (down -60.5%), Canada (down -46.4%) and Indonesia (down -14.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s coal improved by an average 3.6% from all supplying countries since 2014 when coal purchases were valued at $18.9 billion.
Korea
Coal Imports into South Korea
South Korea’s global purchases of imported natural honey totaled US$16.5 billion in 2018. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which South Korea imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2014.
- Australia: US$6 billion (up 8.4% from 2014)
- Russia: $3.5 billion (up 113.6%)
- Indonesia: $2.6 billion (up 7.3%)
- Canada: $1.8 billion (up 29%)
- South Africa: $742.6 million (up 2,476%)
- United States: $651.3 million (up 25.7%)
- Colombia: $531.9 million (up 22,935%)
- China: $424.2 million (up 18.1%)
- Mozambique: $203.9 million (up 669.4%)
- Vietnam: $64.2 million (down -42.7%)
- New Zealand: $50.7 million (no 2014 data)
- Mexico: $23.2 million (up 578,875%)
- Singapore: $16.1 million (down -0.1%)
- Peru: $12.5 million (no 2014 data)
- India: $4.2 million (no 2014 data)
The listed 15 countries shipped 99.97% of all South Korean coal imports in 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to South Korea since 2014 were: Mexico (up 578,875%), Colombia (up 22,935%), South Africa (up 2,476%) and Mozambique (up 669.4%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Korean importers namely: Vietnam (down -42.7%) and Singapore (down -0.1%).
Overall, the value of South Korea’s coal imports swelled by an average 37.9% from all supplying countries since 2014 when coal purchases were valued at $12 billion.
Searchable List of Coal Importing Countries in 2018
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below.
| Rank | Importer | Coal Imports (US$) | %World Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Japan | $25.4 billion | 16.7% |
| 2. | India | $24.6 billion | 16.2% |
| 3. | China | $19.6 billion | 12.9% |
| 4. | South Korea | $16.5 billion | 10.9% |
| 5. | Taiwan | $8.1 billion | 5.3% |
| 6. | Netherlands | $5.9 billion | 3.9% |
| 7. | Germany | $5.7 billion | 3.7% |
| 8. | Turkey | $4.4 billion | 2.9% |
| 9. | Brazil | $3.4 billion | 2.2% |
| 10. | Malaysia | $3.2 billion | 2.1% |
| 11. | Ukraine | $3 billion | 2% |
| 12. | Poland | $2.2 billion | 1.5% |
| 13. | France | $2.1 billion | 1.4% |
| 14. | Vietnam | $1.9 billion | 1.2% |
| 15. | Philippines | $1.8 billion | 1.2% |
| 16. | Italy | $1.8 billion | 1.2% |
| 17. | Thailand | $1.6 billion | 1.1% |
| 18. | Spain | $1.6 billion | 1.1% |
| 19. | Pakistan | $1.6 billion | 1.1% |
| 20. | United Kingdom | $1.3 billion | 0.8% |
| 21. | Chile | $1.2 billion | 0.8% |
| 22. | Hong Kong | $947.1 million | 0.6% |
| 23. | Belgium | $944.3 million | 0.6% |
| 24. | Mexico | $925.9 million | 0.6% |
| 25. | Indonesia | $899.5 million | 0.6% |
| 26. | Canada | $792.4 million | 0.5% |
| 27. | Israel | $752.1 million | 0.5% |
| 28. | Morocco | $743.8 million | 0.5% |
| 29. | Slovakia | $644 million | 0.4% |
| 30. | Austria | $629.9 million | 0.4% |
| 31. | Finland | $585.4 million | 0.4% |
| 32. | South Africa | $541.8 million | 0.4% |
| 33. | Czech Republic | $541 million | 0.4% |
| 34. | Sweden | $522.6 million | 0.3% |
| 35. | United States | $514.1 million | 0.3% |
| 36. | Russia | $402.1 million | 0.3% |
| 37. | Portugal | $401.2 million | 0.3% |
| 38. | Egypt | $350.3 million | 0.2% |
| 39. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $303.2 million | 0.2% |
| 40. | Hungary | $283.9 million | 0.2% |
| 41. | Bangladesh | $246.3 million | 0.2% |
| 42. | Argentina | $213.5 million | 0.1% |
| 43. | Ireland | $200.6 million | 0.1% |
| 44. | United Arab Emirates | $192.7 million | 0.1% |
| 45. | Sri Lanka | $176.8 million | 0.1% |
| 46. | Guatemala | $161.7 million | 0.1% |
| 47. | Cambodia | $137.8 million | 0.1% |
| 48. | New Caledonia | $129.3 million | 0.1% |
| 49. | Romania | $123.2 million | 0.1% |
| 50. | Belarus | $106.5 million | 0.1% |
| 51. | Bulgaria | $105.6 million | 0.1% |
| 52. | Djibouti | $89.9 million | 0.1% |
| 53. | Dominican Republic | $84.2 million | 0.06% |
| 54. | Kazakhstan | $81 million | 0.05% |
| 55. | Norway | $70.4 million | 0.05% |
| 56. | Mauritius | $67.7 million | 0.04% |
| 57. | Trinidad/Tobago | $63 million | 0.04% |
| 58. | Senegal | $61 million | 0.04% |
| 59. | Croatia | $58.9 million | 0.04% |
| 60. | Singapore | $57.2 million | 0.04% |
| 61. | Kenya | $51.6 million | 0.03% |
| 62. | Greece | $48.9 million | 0.03% |
| 63. | Madagascar | $47.5 million | 0.03% |
| 64. | Nepal | $47.4 million | 0.03% |
| 65. | Panama | $47.2 million | 0.03% |
| 66. | Yemen | $42.6 million | 0.03% |
| 67. | Peru | $38 million | 0.03% |
| 68. | Serbia | $37.8 million | 0.02% |
| 69. | Lithuania | $33 million | 0.02% |
| 70. | Iceland | $31.6 million | 0.02% |
| 71. | Kuwait | $30.5 million | 0.02% |
| 72. | Myanmar | $29.9 million | 0.02% |
| 73. | Georgia | $26.5 million | 0.02% |
| 74. | North Macedonia | $24.9 million | 0.02% |
| 75. | Iran | $24.6 million | 0.02% |
| 76. | Jordan | $22.4 million | 0.01% |
| 77. | Togo | $21.8 million | 0.01% |
| 78. | Australia | $20.1 million | 0.01% |
| 79. | Congo | $18.5 million | 0.01% |
| 80. | Moldova | $17.1 million | 0.01% |
| 81. | Kyrgyzstan | $16.9 million | 0.01% |
| 82. | Saudi Arabia | $15.7 million | 0.01% |
| 83. | Angola | $14.1 million | 0.01% |
| 84. | Honduras | $14 million | 0.01% |
| 85. | Uzbekistan | $13.6 million | 0.01% |
| 86. | Central African Rep | $12.9 million | 0.01% |
| 87. | New Zealand | $9.4 million | 0.01% |
| 88. | Lebanon | $8.8 million | 0.01% |
| 89. | Eswatini | $7.9 million | 0.01% |
| 90. | Latvia | $7.6 million | 0.01% |
| 91. | Oman | $6.6 million | 0.004% |
| 92. | Bhutan | $6.5 million | 0.004% |
| 93. | Zambia | $6.3 million | 0.004% |
| 94. | Ghana | $6.2 million | 0.004% |
| 95. | Nigeria | $6.2 million | 0.004% |
| 96. | Ecuador | $5.8 million | 0.004% |
| 97. | Luxembourg | $5.1 million | 0.003% |
| 98. | Uganda | $4.9 million | 0.003% |
| 99. | Albania | $4.6 million | 0.003% |
| 100. | Switzerland | $4.4 million | 0.003% |
| 101. | Slovenia | $4 million | 0.003% |
| 102. | Estonia | $4 million | 0.003% |
| 103. | Jamaica | $4 million | 0.003% |
| 104. | Sudan | $3.9 million | 0.003% |
| 105. | Lesotho | $3.8 million | 0.003% |
| 106. | Bahrain | $3.7 million | 0.002% |
| 107. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $3.7 million | 0.002% |
| 108. | Benin | $3.5 million | 0.002% |
| 109. | Qatar | $3.5 million | 0.002% |
| 110. | Mozambique | $2.9 million | 0.002% |
| 111. | Zimbabwe | $2.6 million | 0.002% |
| 112. | Algeria | $2.5 million | 0.002% |
| 113. | Eritrea | $2.5 million | 0.002% |
| 114. | Cyprus | $2.4 million | 0.002% |
| 115. | Dominica | $2.3 million | 0.002% |
| 116. | Cuba | $1.6 million | 0.001% |
| 117. | Syrian Arab Republic | $1.5 million | 0.001% |
| 118. | Rwanda | $1.5 million | 0.001% |
| 119. | Brunei Darussalam | $1.4 million | 0.001% |
| 120. | Iraq | $1.4 million | 0.001% |
| 121. | Venezuela | $1.2 million | 0.001% |
| 122. | Denmark | $1.2 million | 0.001% |
| 123. | Namibia | $1.1 million | 0.001% |
| 124. | Bolivia | $1.1 million | 0.001% |
| 125. | Paraguay | $995,000 | 0.001% |
| 126. | Papua New Guinea | $923,000 | 0.001% |
| 127. | Tajikistan | $827,000 | 0.001% |
| 128. | Gabon | $765,000 | 0.001% |
| 129. | El Salvador | $764,000 | 0.001% |
| 130. | Tunisia | $608,000 | 0.0004% |
| 131. | Cameroon | $528,000 | 0.0003% |
| 132. | Laos | $508,000 | 0.0003% |
| 133. | Libya | $490,000 | 0.0003% |
| 134. | Azerbaijan | $409,000 | 0.0003% |
| 135. | Malawi | $351,000 | 0.0002% |
| 136. | Armenia | $320,000 | 0.0002% |
| 137. | Colombia | $237,000 | 0.0002% |
| 138. | Botswana | $176,000 | 0.0001% |
| 139. | Montenegro | $158,000 | 0.0001% |
| 140. | French Polynesia | $120,000 | 0.0001% |
| 141. | Ethiopia | $115,000 | 0.0001% |
| 142. | Seychelles | $101,000 | 0.0001% |
| 143. | Barbados | $59,000 | 0.00004% |
| 144. | Aruba | $58,000 | 0.00004% |
| 145. | Costa Rica | $55,000 | 0.00004% |
| 146. | Equatorial Guinea | $51,000 | 0.00003% |
| 147. | Bermuda | $37,000 | 0.00002% |
| 148. | Nicaragua | $36,000 | 0.00002% |
| 149. | Tanzania | $25,000 | 0.00002% |
| 150. | Fiji | $23,000 | 0.00002% |
| 151. | Maldives | $22,000 | 0.00001% |
| 152. | Turkmenistan | $19,000 | 0.00001% |
| 153. | Afghanistan | $15,000 | 0.00001% |
| 154. | Malta | $14,000 | 0.00001% |
| 155. | Uruguay | $13,000 | 0.00001% |
| 156. | Falkland Is (Malvinas) | $8,000 | 0.00001% |
| 157. | Mali | $6,000 | 0.000004% |
| 158. | Faroe Islands | $5,000 | 0.000003% |
| 159. | Liberia | $4,000 | 0.000003% |
| 160. | Sierra Leone | $3,000 | 0.000002% |
| 161. | Anguilla | $3,000 | 0.000002% |
| 162. | Suriname | $3,000 | 0.000002% |
| 163. | Burkina Faso | $2,000 | 0.000001% |
| 164. | Guyana | $2,000 | 0.000001% |
| 165. | Mongolia | $2,000 | 0.000001% |
| 166. | Saint Helena | $1,000 | 0.000001% |
See also Coal Exports by Country, Japan’s Top Trading Partners and Japan’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 1, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 1, 2019
Wikipedia, Coal. Accessed on May 1, 2019