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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Coal-exporting countries: the Asian market

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6327718

Between 1973 and 1983, international coal trade rose from 191 million short tons to 284 million short tons, and coal imports by Asian countries increased from 63 million short tons to 102 million short tons. Before 1979, steam coal was not traded or consumed in substantial quantities in the coal-importing Asian countries; however, by 1983 these countries imported 27 million short tons of steam coal. In most of these countries, the steam coal trade developed as an outgrowth of the predominant metallurgical coal trade. Although steam coal represents a growing share of Asian coal trade, metallurgical coal still represents nearly three quarters of that trade. Asian coal imports are expected to grow significantly over the next decade. In an earlier report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected that Asian coal imports will rise to 152 million short tons in 1990 and to 185 million short tons in 1995. Most of that increase will be in the steam coal market. By 1995, steam coal imports are projected to equal metallurgical coal imports in Asia. This report analyzes the coal industries of the major competitors of the United States in the Asian market: Australia and Canada. The structure of their coal industries is examined in terms of the links that comprise the coal supply chain. The coal industries of potential or smaller-scale suppliers - China (the People's Republic of China), the USSR, South Africa, and Colombia - are also examined. 56 references, 4 figures, 7 tables.

Research Organization:
USDOE Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels
OSTI ID:
6327718
Report Number(s):
DOE/EIA-0462; ON: DE85004910
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English