THE BIG PICTURE: Coal Demand Surges Patterns of coal trade have been shifting in recent years as demand surges in Asian countries. Whereas Japan and the European Union (EU) have long been the world's largest hard coal importers, China and India are now emerging as top importers. This surge has shifted the center of gravity in international coal trade to the Pacific Basin market, as estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show. All projections are per the IEA's New Policies Scenario, which assumes cautious implementation of policy commitments and plans announced by countries around the world. Note: All figures in million tonnes of coal equivalent. -Sonal Patel is POWER's senior writer EXPORTERS IMPORTERS Australia China 2009: 256 2009: 88 2020: 188 2020: 310 Indonesia India 2009: 191 2020: 288 2009: 61 2020: 178 Russia 2009: 77 2020: 96 Japan 2009: 144 2020: 158 South Africa EU 2009: 63 2020: 66 2009: 156 2020: 155 U.S. 2009: 32 2020: 65 Middle East 2009: 1 2020: 2 12 www.powermag.com POWER | May 2012http://www.powermag.com