Global Coal Demand Forecast to Peak and Decline, But Asia Still Drives Growth
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Global coal demand is forecasted to drop by 2.3% by 2026 compared to 2023 levels, marking a potential turning point in energy use.
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But coal demand is still rising in Asia, increasing by 8% in India and 5% in China in 2023 due to rising electricity needs.
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China, India, and Southeast Asia will account for 75% of global coal consumption in 2023, up from 25% in 1990.
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India and Southeast Asia are the only regions where coal use will grow significantly through 2026.
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Even with the forecasted decline, global coal consumption will remain over 8 billion metric tonnes annually through 2026.