US Coal Exports to India Projected to Increase Amidst China Tariffs
* US coal exports to India are expected to rise following China's imposition of tariffs on US energy imports.
* Industry experts anticipate a shift in market share from Australia and Russia to the US in the Indian market.
* China's Finance Ministry recently announced 15% levies on US coal imports, prompting US miners to consider shipping to India, the world's second-largest coal importer.
* Three US coal shipments intended for China have already arrived in India, with ten more awaiting.
* Vasudev Pamnani, director of India's I-Energy Natural Resources, highlights the potential impact of increased US coal imports on Australia's market share.
* US exports of coking coal, primarily used in steelmaking, increased by almost a third to $1.84 billion in 2024.
* Malcolm Roberts, chief marketing officer at Peabody Energy, suggests that US exports could shift to India, while Australian exports may find their way to China as a result of the tariffs.
* Australia previously dominated India's coking coal market, accounting for 80% of shipments, but its share declined to 62% in 2024 due to diversification from the US, Russia, and Mozambique.
* Australia may regain market share in China, its primary market, following China's unofficial ban on coking coal imports from Australia in 2021.
* Mongolia and Russia are currently China's largest coking coal exporters.
* In 2024, the US held a 9% share of China's coking coal market, while Australia accounted for 8%.