But the U.S. Energy Information Administration released data Tuesday that indicates a steep nosedive in coal exports since 2012. Chinese demand for coal fell by about 3 percent in 2014, and dropped another 4 percent to 5 percent throughout 2015, according to the Sightline Institute, a think tank. That’s a major problem for the coal industry. The U.S. coal industry basically imploded as Chinese demand slipped. Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, Patriot Coal and Walter Energy have all filed for bankruptcy over the past two years.

Source: Huffington Post March 15, 2017 20:48 UTC