ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — U.S. coal exports to Indonesia surged 158.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, making Indonesia the second-largest market for American coal in Asia after India and one of the top three export destinations globally, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The EIA’s Quarterly Coal Report showed shipments to Indonesia reached 1.74 million short tons between January and March, up sharply from 673,608 short tons in the same period of 2025. Exports also increased from 1.32 million short tons in the fourth quarter of last year.
The increase is notable given Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s largest coal producers and exporters, underscoring increasingly diversified coal trade flows between major producing nations.
Overall, U.S. coal exports totaled 23.69 million short tons in the first quarter, up 0.9% from the previous quarter. The average export price stood at US$114.22 per short ton, the EIA reported.
Asia remained the largest destination for U.S. coal exports, receiving 13.08 million short tons during the quarter, accounting for more than half of total overseas shipments. Besides Indonesia, exports to India, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam also increased.
India retained its position as the largest buyer of U.S. coal, importing 7.46 million short tons, followed by Indonesia (1.74 million short tons), South Korea (1.66 million short tons), and Japan (1.48 million short tons).
Europe remained the second-largest regional market, importing 5.63 million short tons, although shipments to the region declined 10.2% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Meanwhile, U.S. domestic coal consumption fell to 105 million short tons in the first quarter of 2026, down 11.4% from a year earlier, while coal inventories rose to 137.7 million short tons at the end of March despite softer domestic demand.
The EIA data showed that Asia accounted for more than half of all U.S. coal exports in the first quarter of 2026, with Indonesia posting the fastest growth among the region’s major importers, reinforcing Asia’s central role in the global coal trade. (AT Network)
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