The International Energy Agency (IEA) is preparing to release its Coal 2025 annual market report, offering one of the most comprehensive global assessments of coal demand and supply heading into the next decade. Ahead of the publication, the agency will host an under-embargo press webinar on Tuesday, 16 December, providing journalists with early insight into the findings that will be formally published the following day.
The briefing, scheduled for 15:00 Paris time, will be led by Keisuke Sadamori, Director of the IEA’s Energy Markets and Security Directorate, and Carlos Fernández Alvarez, the report’s lead author. The agency is inviting accredited media to register in advance. According to the notice, the webinar will provide reporters with an overview of market trends, projections, and key uncertainties before the report’s public release on Wednesday, 17 December.
First published in 2011, the IEA’s annual coal market assessment has become a widely referenced benchmark for policymakers, investors, utilities, and analysts tracking the role of coal in the global energy system. At a time when countries are attempting to balance energy security, affordability, and decarbonization, the annual report often frames debates on how quickly coal consumption may decline—or in some regions, persist.
The press announcement highlights the scope of the upcoming edition, noting that it “delivers a detailed and authoritative overview of the sector.” The Coal 2025 report examines current market dynamics and provides forecasts through 2030 for demand, supply and trade at both the global and regional level. It also “examines trends in investment, costs and pricing,” offering a clearer view of how economic and policy conditions may influence the trajectory of coal markets over the medium term.
Coal remains under scrutiny as governments pursue climate-policy commitments and expand deployment of cleaner energy technologies. According to the IEA release, this year’s analysis explores the drivers that could shape coal markets through the end of the decade and identifies major uncertainties ahead. It notes that the report includes “analysis of how developments in markets for other energy sources – such as natural gas and renewables – could influence coal markets in the near term.”
The focus on cross-market dynamics reflects a shifting global energy landscape. Natural gas prices, renewable-energy expansion, and national policy measures have created diverging market conditions across regions. In some economies, coal demand has plateaued or declined as utilities retire ageing plants and scale up renewables. In others, particularly in parts of Asia, coal continues to play a central role in electricity generation and industrial production due to cost considerations, infrastructure constraints, or reliability concerns.
The IEA’s market outlooks typically assess how these varied regional patterns contribute to global trade flows and investment decisions. The agency also reviews financial and regulatory pressures facing coal producers, as well as how technology developments—such as carbon capture, utilization and storage—might affect long-term prospects.
While the release does not preview specific findings from the Coal 2025 report, the invitation-only webinar indicates the IEA expects heightened interest from media and industry observers. Energy markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years, driven by geopolitical tensions, fluctuating fuel prices, and accelerating clean-energy transitions. As a result, analysts will be watching closely for new data points and forward-looking indicators when the full report becomes available on 17 December.
For now, the IEA is emphasizing the value of early engagement with reporters. The announcement states: “Please register below to attend the under-embargo press webinar.” Participating journalists will receive information under embargo rules, allowing them to prepare coverage ahead of the official launch.
With coal still accounting for a large share of global power generation and industrial activity, the Coal 2025 outlook is expected to contribute to ongoing debates about how quickly the world can shift to cleaner energy sources while maintaining reliable supply. The combination of market analysis, policy context, and long-term projections makes the report a key reference for stakeholders assessing the future of the coal sector and its role in the broader energy transition.
