China's Coal Industry Now Equals the World's
China's coal industry - both consumption and production - is now close to matching that of the entire remainder of the world, according to figures released this week by the Energy Information Administration.
The two graphs tells the whole story. On coal production (right), at 4 billion tons per year, China accounts for 46 percent of the world's output. China's production has doubled since 2003, accounting for 69 percent of the world's increase. The country in second place - the United States - produces only 12 percent of the world total.
On consumption (left) the numbers are equally stunning. China burns almost exactly what it produces, 4 billion tons a year, accounting for 49 percent of the world total. This figure has doubled since 2005, making up for 83 percent of the world's increase. The country in second place - once again the United States - consumes slightly less than 1 billion tons a year, only 11 percent of the world total.
While coal consumption in the rest of the world has flattened, China's is still racing ahead. Within a few years, the story of what happens with world coal consumption is largely going to be what happens in China.
