Coal consumption and production have sharply declined in recent years in the U.S., despite political support. Reasons … are mostly unfavorable economic conditions for coal, including competition from natural gas and renewables in the power … sector, as well as an aging coal- fired power plant fleet. The U.S. Energy Information Administration as well as most models …

the global coal market.But China doesn't ”need” the coal. The world's largest coal producer cranked out 2.96 Bt of …In 2009 the global coal market witnessed one of the most dramatic realignments it has ever seen – China, long a net … exporter of coal, suddenly imported a record-smashing 126 Mt tons (103 Mt net). This inversion of China's role in global coal …