Iran War Pushes Global Coal Use to Record High
PUBLISHED Sep 10, 2026, 8:35 PM ET
The International Energy Agency announced that global coal consumption is projected to rise 1.2% in 2026, reaching a record high of 8.94 billion metric tons. The upward revision reverses previous agency forecasts that anticipated a gradual decline in global coal demand. The shift is driven directly by the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and subsequent shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The military conflict has restricted liquefied natural gas shipments through the critical waterway, pushing international natural gas prices to their highest levels since the 2022-2023 energy crisis. Although physical coal cargo does not transit the Strait of Hormuz, soaring gas costs made coal a significantly cheaper alternative for electricity generation. Economies possessing both gas-fired power units and spare coal capacity—including European nations, Japan, South Korea, and China—accelerated a gas-to-coal switch to keep power grids operational. Meanwhile, U.S. coal demand is projected to contract by 7%.
By Yusra M. | JQJO News
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Left: Focuses heavily on climate setbacks and worsening global environmental emissions. Center: Emphasizes neutral data changes, market statistics, and official agency forecasts. Right: Highlights energy security challenges and economic costs of military conflicts.
International Energy Agency released updated coal sector market report on Wednesday. https://www.mining.com/coal-demand-to-rise-1-2-as-hormuz-closure-drives-gas-prices-iea/
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Overview – Coal Mid-Year Update 2026 – Analysis
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