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hina's coal consumption reached a record high of 8.77 billion metric tons in 2024, driven by increasing global electricity demand and offsetting reductions in advanced economies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) revised its forecast upwards, citing the doubling of global coal consumption over the past three decades. China accounts for over a third of this demand, with its own consumption reaching 4.9 billion tons in 2024.

    Despite massive investments in renewable energy, coal-fired plants continue to generate about 60% of China's electricity. The country also set a record for coal imports, bringing in 542.7 million tons in 2024, a 14.4% increase from the previous year. Lower international coal prices allowed China to stockpile supplies and maintain stable domestic energy costs.

    China made progress in diversifying its energy sources, with the IEA expecting it to account for almost 60% of global renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, this has not been enough to reduce coal consumption significantly. The IEA predicts that China will continue setting annual records for coal use for at least a few more years, and global coal demand may plateau by 2027 at record-high levels.