Anthracite coal imports to the UK 2010-2020, by country

The European Union (EU) was the key source of anthracite coal to the United Kingdom over the past decade, with imports peaking in 2013 at 109,000 metric tons. The UK's imports of anthracite from the EU amounted to 61,000 metric tons in 2020.
Anthracite is the highest ranking of coal. It is often referred to as hard coal and has the highest carbon content and energy density of all types of coal.

Coal types

Whilst the EU was the main provider of anthracite to the UK, the region's exports of coking coal paled in comparison to Australia and the United States. Australia was the main exporter of this form of coal, exporting more than four million metric tons in 2002. However, imports from Australia began to decrease annually from 2012, and by 2018 the country was exporting less than Russia.
Russia is the leading exporter of steam coal to the UK. From 2013 to 2016, imports from Russia fell from 19 million metric tons to just 1.6 million. Despite this decline, there was a recovery in the following years with imports rising to 3.8 million metric tons.

UK coal consumption

The consumption of coal for energy use in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly in recent decades. In 1980, consumption was increased to 120.8 million metric tons of oil equivalent, but by 2020 it had fallen to a low of 5.6 million metric tons of oil equivalent.