Record lows in coal production and consumption in the EU

In 2024, the European Union recorded its lowest ever coal production and consumption figures, according to a fresh Eurostat report. Consumption fell to 306 million tonnes (-13% compared to 2023) and production to 242 million tonnes (-12%). These figures were a continuation of the already record decline in 2023, when annual reductions were 23% and 21% respectively.

Coal has a weaker and weaker influence on the region's energy balance: its share in electricity generation has fallen from 16% in 2022 to 12% in 2023. The reasons are both structural and political. In particular, the EU embargo on coal imports from Russia, which came into force in August 2022, was a powerful factor. From 2021 to 2023, Russian coal supplies to the EU collapsed by 98%.

Russia was replaced by Australia and the US, each taking 25 per cent of the EU's total hard coal imports in 2023. They were followed by Colombia (18%), South Africa (14%) and Kazakhstan (9%). In total, these five countries accounted for 90 per cent of all shipments.

At the same time, the EU's dependence on coal imports was 67 per cent - much lower than for oil (95 per cent) and natural gas (90 per cent). This suggests that, despite declining consumption, coal still plays a role in energy supply, albeit one that is rapidly losing ground.

This historic decline coincides with the EU's active transition to renewable energy and green investments. Experts estimate that even resilient industries such as metals and heavy industry are beginning to reconsider their dependence on fossil fuels.