Global coal production capacity is expected to edge up 0.5% to 8.17 billion tonnes in 2020

Global coal production is expected to grow by just 0.
5% in 2020, from 8.
13 billion tonnes in 2019 to 8.
17 billion tonnes
in 2020, GlobalData revealed that due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the first two months of 2020, coal production disruptions were most severe
in China.
Coal production fell by about 6 percent, largely because of the long Lunar New Year holiday and traffic lockdowns that prevented workers from returning to mines
.

As of Feb.
14, only 57% of China's coal mines were operating
.
However, by March 4, 83% of China's coal mining capacity had begun operations and production is now expected to resume for the remainder of 2020, with a decline of just 1.
2%
by the end of the year.

Globally, thermal coal production is expected to increase by 0.
5% to 7.
05 billion tonnes in 2020, while metallurgical coal production is expected to reach 1.
1 billion tonnes, unchanged
from last year.

Over the next four years, thermal coal production is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.
9% to reach 7.
6 billion mt
by 2023 due to increased demand from India and China.

Vinneth Bajaj, senior mining analyst at GlobalData, said: "Globally, coal production is expected to be only marginally affected by the coronavirus pandemic compared to other commodities, as hot coal is allowed to run during lockdowns to secure power supply
when deemed essential.
”