In-brief analysis
April 1, 2026
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau
After four years of growth, U.S. coal exports decreased by 16 million short tons (MMst) in 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Exports totaled 93 MMst in 2025, compared with 108 MMst in 2024. Thermal coal exports fell by 18%, and metallurgical coal exports fell by 11%.
The decrease in U.S. coal exports largely reflects a 92% decrease in exports to China in 2025 compared with 2024, after China imposed a 15% additional tariff on imports of U.S. coal in February of last year and a 34% reciprocal tariff on imports from the United States in April. It also reflects a global market characterized by ample supply and soft demand, which caused prices to decline, making it increasingly difficult for U.S. coal exporters to earn profits. Finally, coal generation in the U.S. domestic coal market rose 13% in 2025, leading to a 12% increase in electric power coal consumption after three straight years of decreases.
In the United States, coal is exported primarily through East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. Over the last five years, 62% of total U.S. exports have departed from East Coast ports in Norfolk, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. Approximately 25% of coal exports departed from the Gulf Coast ports in Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, over the same period.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Another 8% of recorded coal exports departed the United States from the West Coast, primarily from Seattle, Washington, en route to ports in Canada. However, some exports from the western area of the United States are not captured by U.S. Census Bureau’s data from Seattle.
During the years 2021 to 2025, 78% of U.S. steam coal exports departed from Baltimore, Norfolk, Mobile, or New Orleans. For metallurgical coal, 94% of all coal exported from the United States departed from the same East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. A single port, the Lambert Point Coal Terminal in Norfolk, Virginia, accounted for approximately 58% of metallurgical coal exported from the United States.
Principal contributor: Jonathan Church
