China Extends Its Lead Over India as the World’s Biggest Importer of Coal

The world’s biggest importer of coal, China, has widened its lead over the second-largest buyer, India, to the highest in more than a decade, according to customs data compiled by Reuters. Last year, Chinese imports rose while India’s fell, widening the gap between China and India in coal buying, according to the data. China took advantage of the low international seaborne coal prices in 2024 to boost purchases, while India raised its domestic coal production in an effort to enhance its energy security. Reuters estimates based on shipping…