Coal Economy in the International Markets of the Atlantic and the Pacific Regions

Global coal production was at the level of 6.65 thousend million tonnes in 2011 and was higher than in 1990 by about 3.2 thousend million 93%).Within 21 years, the average growth rate was at the level of 3.2%. Since the last year, coal production increased by 6.2%. The share of steam coal was about 85% at that time. Since 1990, demand for energy has increased by 45%, while demand for energy from coal increased by 56%. However, since 2000, an increase in energy consumption from coal is the largest of all the other energy sources. The average annual growth in the case of coal was at the level of 3.9%. Currently, about 15% of the extracted coal is traded. The two main coal markets are the Pacific one and the Atlantic one, which share together about 80-85% of the total coal trade. The maritime trading prevails and only 8% of coal is transported overland. Steam coal trade exceeded 1 billion tonnes in 2010 and, when compared to 1990, it increased by 124%. Import of coal to markets in Asia and the Pacific regions grew nearly 7 times since 1990, while imports of the European region approximately doubled. Maritime transport takes place mainly with the employment if panama vessels. There are more than 100 ports through which coal is exported in the world. However, in the importing countries coal is discharged in about 220 ports. The most important companies that produce most of coal (globally) are the following companies: Coal India, two US companies: Peabody and Arch, and two companies from China: Shenhua and China Coal.