World Use
Steelmaking coal by the numbers
A 10 year snap shot
The world uses and has used over 1,000 Mt of metallurgical coal per year over the last decade. And with over 70% of steel demand dependent on metallurgical coal, and the world in need of steel, met coal is an underappreciated facilitator of modern day life.
Where does the world get its met coal?
Seaborne coal is increasingly important
The world is reliant on seaborne met coal to meet its coal needs, with Canada (namely British Columbia) being a significant supplier. Russia, Australia and the United States are also key contributors to world demand. At present, Canada is the 7th largest met coal producer in the world.
Where is met coal used?
China dominates met coal demand
China is by far the largest producer of steel and therefore the largest consumer of metallurgical coal, but is increasingly reliant on imports to meet their demands. It is expected that as Indian and other Asian countries continue to industrialize and grow their steelmaking sector that demand for met coal will expand in those countries, with demand expected to soften in China over the next two decades.