Global coal demand is now forecast to rise 1.2 per cent in 2026 to a record 8.94 billion tonnes, as disruptions from the Middle East conflict push up natural gas prices and encourage greater coal-fired power generation, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Coal Mid-Year Update 2026.
The 32 Member countries of the International Energy Agency unanimously agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions in oil markets stemming from the war in the Middle East.
