U.S. coal exports increased 61 percent in 2017 and exports to Asia doubled

According to the U.
S.
Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.
S.
exported 97 million short tons of coal (MMst) in 2017, up 61 percent
from 2016.

While Europe continues to be the largest beneficiary of U.
S.
coal exports, exports to Asia more than
doubled from 15.
7 million short tons in 2016 to 32.
8 million short tons in 2017.

The main driver of coal export growth in 2017 came from thermal coal
, which is used to generate electricity.
India, South Korea and Japan were the main beneficiaries of U.
S
.
thermal coal exports in 2017.

According to the EIA, India is the largest importer of thermal coal to the United States, importing 7.
6 million short tons of thermal coal from the United States in 2017, almost three times that of 2016, mainly to increase the country's power generation
.

India's coal-fired power generation capacity has more than doubled in recent years to meet growing electricity demand
.
While India produces enough coal to meet most of its domestic demand, most of India's new coal-fired power plants require higher quality and energy content than India typically produces, forcing these plants to import coal
from other countries.

South Korea was the third-largest importer of U.
S.
thermal coal in 2017, increasing to 5.
9 million short tons from 1.
3 million short tons
in 2016.
This increase is mainly due to South Korea's planned transition from nuclear power, increasing its dependence
on thermal power plants.

U.
S.
metallurgical coal exports also increased in 2017 to 55.
3 million short tons, accounting for 57 percent of total coal exports, up more than a third
from 2016.
Metallurgical coal is mainly used in steel production
.
Europe is the preferred destination for metallurgical coal exports, accounting for 45%
of total metallurgical coal exports from the United States in 2017.