China’s Coal Output Hits Record in 2025 Even as It Burns Less

China’s coal production reached a record last year, even as the country’s power plants burned less of the fossil fuel due to a flood of cleaner electricity, with Beijing continuing to prioritize energy security.

Coal output rose to 4.83 billion tons in 2025, according to government figures released on Monday, up 1.2% from the previous year despite a spate of safety inspections that curbed production in the second half. Thermal power generation fell 1%, the first decline on an annual basis in a decade.