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Coal Mining in Canada - Market Research Report (2016-2031)

Matty O'Malley Matty O'Malley New York, United States Last Updated: February 2026 NAICS 21211CA

Revenue

$8.4bn

2026

$8.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

9,858

Businesses

13

Wages

$X.Xbn

Coal Mining in Canada industry analysis

Canadian coal miners are coming off a tumultuous few years in which war, supply shocks and the energy transition have all collided. After spiking in 2021 and 2022 on the back of the post‑pandemic reopening and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, coal prices have eased from their peaks as supply chains normalized and Europe scrambled less urgently for replacement fuel. That retreat has pulled revenue and profit back from their 2022 highs, even though prices remained comparatively firm through 2023 and 2024 and kept metallurgical output elevated. With coal prices still edging lower in 2025, revenue continued to drop, though an expected uptick in thermal and coking prices in 2026, helped by energy‑hungry data centres, offers a modest near‑term reprieve. Industry revenue has been decreasing at a CAGR of 4.0% over the past five years to total an estimated $8.4 billion through the end of 2026, including an estimated increase of 4.5% in 2026.

Trends and Insights

  • Coal miners are coming down from highs. After war and crisis-driven price spikes in 2021 and 2022, easing supply pressures have dragged coal prices, revenue and profit lower, though a small 2026 price bump tied to data center power demand could offer brief relief.
  • Met coal output has surged, but it's riding an export‑heavy wave. Higher prices since 2021 have pushed Canadian producers, especially in British Columbia, to ramp up shipments to Asian steelmakers, even as rising steel imports and US tariffs squeeze domestic demand for their coal.
  • British Columbia is still the heartbeat of Canada's coal sector. With rich metallurgical deposits close to deep-water ports, the province produces the majority of the country's coal. Conuma has been restarting idle mines in the province, boosting production.
  • Renewables, led by hydropower, are gaining a larger slice of Canada’s electricity pie. With solar and wind on the rise, renewables now provide a formidable challenge to the coal industry.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.4bn in 2026.

Trends and Insights

Falling coal prices have hurt revenue and profit

  • The reopening of global economies in 2021 contributed to massive supply shocks and increases in coal prices. Coal prices continued to soar in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions placed on the country led to an energy crisis, further pushing up coal prices as the country is a massive producer of energy. Various countries looked to other energy providers following sanctions. Also, some countries increasingly relied on coal instead of natural gas, which they had previously relied on Russia for.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Coal Mining in Canada
Revenue (2016-2031)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2026-2031)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Prices are set to inch down and hinder revenue growth

  • Revenue for coal miners is forecast to edge lower as price growth stalls and key demand sources weaken. The world price of coking coal is expected to decline at a CAGR of 0.2% through the end of 2031, reflecting rising global adoption of electric arc furnaces that use little or no coking coal and therefore soften long‑run demand and pricing power for traditional blast‑furnace feedstock.

Biggest companies in the Coal Mining in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue ($m)
2026
Profit ($m)
2026
Profit Margin (%)
2026
Teck
8,535.0
4,232.0
49.6
Glencore
5,943.3
964.5
16.2
Conuma Resources
1,850.0
229.1
12.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Coal Mining in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bituminous and subbituminous thermal coal, Metallurgical coal and Lignite thermal coal. Bituminous and subbituminous thermal coal is the largest segment of the Coal Mining in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Metallurgical coal production has climbed alongside higher prices

  • Metallurgical coal is used to produce coke, which is then used to manufacture iron and steel. To a lesser extent, coke is also used in smelting and casting base metals. Metallurgical coal is also used in various other industrial processes such as primary and secondary metal production, fertilizer, brick and other related industries. Most of the metallurgical coal produced in Canada comes from British Columbia, close to key export markets like Japan, South Korea and China. Much of the metallurgical coal produced in Canada is exported.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Coal Mining industry in Canada mines bituminous, anthracite and lignite varieties of coal. Mining occurs underground and in surface pits. Industry operators may also develop coal mine sites and prepare the coal for sale by washing, screening and sizing it.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Coal Mining industry in Canada include Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, Bituminous coal and lignite underground mining and Anthracite mining.

Companies

Companies covered in the Coal Mining industry in Canada include Teck, Glencore and Conuma Resources.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Coal Mining industry in Canada include thermal coal, longwall mining, open cut mining, coke and metallurgical coal.

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 21211 - Coal Mining in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Coal miners are coming down from highs. After war and crisis-driven price spikes in 2021 and 2022, easing supply pressures have dragged coal prices, revenue and profit lower,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Met coal output has surged, but it's riding an export‑heavy wave. Higher prices since 2021 have pushed Canadian producers, especially in British Columbia, to ramp up shipment...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2026
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2026
  • Major market segmentation in 2026
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

British Columbia is still the heartbeat of Canada's coal sector. With rich metallurgical deposits close to deep-water ports, the province produces the majority of the country...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2026
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Renewables, led by hydropower, are gaining a larger slice of Canada’s electricity pie. With solar and wind on the rise, renewables now provide a formidable challenge to the c...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Glencore's acquisition of Elk Valley Resources marks a major shift in Canada's mining landscape. By snagging a 77.0% stake, Glencore strengthens its foothold in steelmaking c...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
  • Overview of Teck's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
  • Overview of Glencore's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
  • Overview of Conuma Resources's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Teck, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Glencore, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Conuma Resources, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Ottawa's tax and funding toolkit still gives coal an indirect lifeline. Broad mining incentives, such as the 15.0% Mineral Exploration Tax Credit and accelerated write-offs f...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit has come back down to earth after a brief boom. It surged during the post-pandemic reopening and the 2022 energy crisis, when coal prices spiked, but has since eased a...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2024)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Assets (2019-2024)
  • Liabilities (2019-2024)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Average Wage (2016-2031)
  • Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
  • Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2016-2031)
  • IVA (2016-2031)
  • Establishments (2016-2031)
  • Enterprises (2016-2031)
  • Employment (2016-2031)
  • Exports (2016-2031)
  • Imports (2016-2031)
  • Wages (2016-2031)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Coal Mining industry in Canada in 2026?

The market size of the Coal Mining industry in Canada is $8.4bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Coal Mining industry in Canada in 2026?

There are 13 businesses in the Coal Mining industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 14.2 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Coal Mining industry in Canada?

The Coal Mining industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Coal Mining industry in Canada?

The Coal Mining industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Coal Mining industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Coal Mining industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Coal Mining industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Coal Mining industry in Canada is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Coal Mining industry in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Coal Mining industry in Canada are Teck, Glencore and Conuma Resources

What does the Coal Mining industry in Canada include?

Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining and Bituminous coal and lignite underground mining are part of the Coal Mining industry in Canada.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Coal Mining industry in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in the Coal Mining industry in Canada is Teck.

How competitive is the Coal Mining industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Coal Mining industry in Canada.

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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