In a September 17, 2024, Barchart article on coal futures for delivery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Newcastle, Australia, I concluded:
The economic conditions in China and India will determine the path of least resistance of coal prices over the coming months and years. While environmentalists continue to believe coal is the traditional energy sector’s four-letter word, China and India will continue to burn fossil fuels as the demand for power rises with the population and is a function of economic growth. Expect higher coal prices to rise if production cannot keep pace with the rising demand. While China and India are the world’s leading coal-producing countries, they are also leading coal importers, as Chinese and Indian production falls short of their consumption.
With over one-third of the world’s population, coal demand will remain robust, and U.S. and European efforts to limit production may only raise coal prices over the coming years.
