Coal Marches Toward Fresh 1-Year High

2026-02-18 05:17 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

Coal prices climbed above $115 per ton in mid-February, approaching their highest level in a year, as expectations of resilient demand offset the longer-term global shift toward cleaner energy sources.

China, the world’s largest coal producer and consumer, commissioned 78 GW of new coal-fired power capacity in 2025, marking the highest annual addition in a decade.

The expansion underscores Beijing’s emphasis on energy security and grid stability during peak demand periods, even as non-fossil fuel generation capacity surpassed fossil fuel-based capacity for the first time.

China retains the world’s largest coal power fleet and accounts for roughly 71% of global coal capacity currently under development.

In the US, President Donald Trump has taken steps to support the struggling coal-fired power sector, allocating $175 million in federal funding to modernize six plants and directing the United States Department of Defense to procure electricity from additional facilities.



News Stream
Coal Marches Toward Fresh 1-Year High
Coal prices climbed above $115 per ton in mid-February, approaching their highest level in a year, as expectations of resilient demand offset the longer-term global shift toward cleaner energy sources. China, the world’s largest coal producer and consumer, commissioned 78 GW of new coal-fired power capacity in 2025, marking the highest annual addition in a decade. The expansion underscores Beijing’s emphasis on energy security and grid stability during peak demand periods, even as non-fossil fuel generation capacity surpassed fossil fuel-based capacity for the first time. China retains the world’s largest coal power fleet and accounts for roughly 71% of global coal capacity currently under development. In the US, President Donald Trump has taken steps to support the struggling coal-fired power sector, allocating $175 million in federal funding to modernize six plants and directing the United States Department of Defense to procure electricity from additional facilities.
2026-02-18
Coal Hits One-Year High
Coal prices climbed toward $120 per ton in mid-February, reaching their strongest levels in a year as China, the world’s largest producer and consumer, moved to streamline its coal sector amid signs of peaking consumption. Regulators approved a plan for China Shenhua Energy Co to acquire roughly $19 billion in assets from its parent, China Energy Investment Corp, including coal-to-chemicals, mining, power generation, and logistics operations. The transaction is set to deepen vertical integration and improve supply-chain efficiency, lifting Shenhua’s annual coal production capacity to 512 million tons. In the US, President Donald Trump moved to support the declining coal-fired power sector, directing $175 million in federal funds to upgrade six plants and instructing the Defense Department to purchase electricity from additional facilities.
2026-02-13
Coal Slips on Trump Industry Push
Coal prices fell below $115 per ton, touching a near two-week low after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans to ramp up domestic coal production and increase reliance on coal-fired power plants to meet rising electricity demand. Trump directed the Defense Department to purchase electricity from coal plants to power military operations and allocated funds to upgrade six facilities. Meanwhile, the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association cut its 2026 coal import forecast to 465 million tons from 480 million projected three weeks ago. The group also expects domestic output to reach 4.86 billion tons this year, up from a record 4.8 billion tons last year, adding that production could rise further if imports decline sharply. The revised outlook follows Indonesia’s move to curb thermal coal shipments in an effort to stabilize prices, adding another layer of uncertainty to global supply dynamics.
2026-02-11