The US and India signaled a renewed push to expand coal trade at the India Energy Week summit in Goa on January 29, underscoring the fuel's enduring role in energy security for both nations.

India's Coal Secretary, Vikram Dev Dutt, announced that bilateral discussions on coal cooperation had recently taken place, emphasizing potential collaboration in areas like coal gasification, carbon capture, and the supply of critical minerals.

He noted that the US could become a more significant supplier of metallurgical coal, which India heavily depends on for its steel production.

The US currently provides about 10% of India's met coal imports, despite India relying on foreign sources for over 90% of its supply. There is, therefore, room for growth.

During the first 11 months of 2025, US coking coal accounted for 14% of India's total coking coal imports, showed data from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary for Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy at the US Department of Energy, echoed the optimism, stating that "the US wants to continue to deepen our partnership. We want to export more coal."