China has agreed to import at least 10 Mt of coal from the United Statse in 2027 and again in 2028, following a three-day official visit by China’s president to Washington (US), according to a press release from the White House press release.
China has virtually stopped importing US coal since the latest tariff dispute began in early 2025. However, the country imported more than 12 Mt of US coal for power generation and steelmaking as recently as 2024 (Bloomberg, 28/09/2026).
China is the world's largest coal producer and importer. The country became a net importer of coal in 2009. According to our data, coal imports fell by around 10% in 2025 to 471 Mt, as production rose, and consumption remained stable. Over 2016-2024, coal imports increased by 10%/year; previously, they fell by 21%/year in 2014-15. As of 2024, coal was mainly imported from Indonesia (44%), Russia (17%), Australia (15%, - 11 pp since 2019), and Mongolia (15%) (Enerdata Global Energy Research).