Wood Mackenzie, the global energy and mining research and consultancy group, has reported that
China's import volume of thermal coal is expected to surge from 175 million mt in 2011 to 1 billion mt by 2030. Meanwhile, Indian thermal coal imports are expected to rise to at least 400 million mt by 2030, five times the volume recorded in 2011.
Wood Mackenzie analyst Prakash Sharma told Reuters that during the next decade Australia and Indonesia will still be the main coal suppliers for
China and India. However, by 2022, as Chinese and Indian coal demand increases, both countries may need to import from Russia, Columbia and the Powder River Basin in the US. In addition, Mozambique and Mongolia are also expected to supply coal to meet Chinese and Indian demand.