Mined Anthracite Coal Market: Current Analysis and Forecast (2021-2027)

Anthracite is a naturally occurring smokeless fuel-very shiny, hard and dense-extremely slow burning with high heat output. Anthracite, also known as hard coal, black coal, etc. is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy density of all types of coal and is the highest ranking of coals. Because anthracite is 82 to 86 percent carbon, it burns at a very high level of BTUs-25 million BTUs per ton (BTUs, British Thermal Units, are a measure of heat). Its cost-per million BTUs is significantly lower than the cost-per-million BTUs of gas, oil, electricity, cord wood or wood pellets, making it a much more cost-efficient fuel source. In addition, The low sulphur and volatile content in anthracite makes it an extremely clean-burning fuel. Anthracite produces virtually no smoke or particulate emissions, a major problem with cord wood and wood pellet burning stoves. Therefore, anthracite coal stoves can be used as alternatives to wood stoves/fireplaces in areas of the country where wood burning is restricted, due to air pollution problems, or where wood is scarce and expensive.

Based on type, the Mined Anthracite Coal Market is bifurcated into three segments: standard grade, high grade, and ultra-high grade. Among these, Ultra-high grade category to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Over the last few years, there has been an unprecedented increase in power demand. Power demand is rapidly increasing, not only in developing countries such as China and India, but also in developed countries such as the United States, though developing countries are leading in terms of demand growth. The expansion of grid networks and electrification of rural areas in developing and developing countries has resulted in an increase in power demand.

Based on application, the Mined Anthracite Coal market has been bifurcated into power generation, steel production, fertilizer production, and others. Of these, steel generation to hold significant share and is expected to grow at steady CAGR during the forecast period. It plays an important role in cost reduction in the steel making process and is used in production of ferroalloys, silicomanganese, calcium carbide and silicon carbide. South Africa exports lower-quality, higher-ash anthracite to Brazil to be used in steel-making. In addition, according to World Coal Association, nearly 70% of the steel produced makes use of coal. Anthracite Coal is a type of coal that is put to immense heat and pressure, thereby making it one of the hardest and most compressed coals available in the world.

For a better understanding of the market adoption of Mined Anthracite Coal Industry, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in the countries such as U.S., China, India, Australia, Russia, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, and Rest of World. In 2020, China dominated the market as it is the largest anthracite coal producer in the world. Most Chinese production is of standard-grade anthracite, which is used in power generation.

Some of the major players operating in the market include Shanxi Jincheng Anthracite Coal Mining Group, Vinacomin, Glencore, Siberian Coal Energy, Feishang Anthracite Resources, Sadovaya Group, Blaschak Coal Corporation, Reading Anthracite Company, Atrum Coal NL, and Celtic Energy.