Coal’s new world order takes shape

AI Summary

Shifts in global coal trade are reshaping dry-bulk shipping, with Indonesian exports declining, southern African shipments reaching records, and Asian import demand becoming more uneven. Clarksons Research forecasts seaborne coal trade will rise by just 1% in 2026 to 1.343 billion tonnes.

Coal’s changing trade map is creating winners and losers across dry bulk shipping in 2026, with Indonesian exports retreating, southern African shipments setting records and Asian import demand increasingly fractured. Clarksons Research forecasts seaborne coal trade will edge up just 1% this year to 1.343bn tonnes. Beneath that modest increase, Indonesian exports are projected to …