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US NAICS 42352 | Industry Report

Coal & Ore Wholesaling in the US Industry Data and Analysis

GF
Gwyneth Feroleto
Analyst New York, United States February 2026

Over the five years to 2026, coal and ore wholesalers in the United States have faced significant industry change as demand patterns shifted and product priorities evolved. Thermal coal demand continued to trend downward as coal-fired power generation declined and coal plant retirements reduced the number of utility buyers, leaving wholesalers with a smaller and more concentrated customer base. In parallel, many operators increased emphasis on coking coal and a wider mix of ores and metallic minerals tied to industrial activity, reflecting a gradual shift in product priorities away from utility-linked volumes. At the same time, sharp commodity price swings complicated forecasting, inventory planning and contract management, increasing the risk of timing gaps between procurement costs and customer pricing. In this environment, industry revenue is estimated to decrease at a CAGR of 3.9% to $21.0 billion over the five years to 2026, including expected growth of 2.0% in 2026 driven by firmer pricing and improved performance in select non-utility channels.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released February 2026.

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About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 42352. This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling coal, coke, metal ores and some nonmetallic minerals (except precious and semiprecious stones and minerals used in construction, such as sand and gravel). Related terms covered in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States include wholesale bypass, bituminous coal, coke and anthracite.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States include Steam coal products, Coking coal products and Other ores.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States include Trafigura.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is $21.0bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2026?

There are 228 businesses in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States?

The Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States?

The Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States?

The biggest company operating in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is Trafigura

What does the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States include?

Coal wholesaling and Coke wholesaling are part of the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States is Trafigura.

How competitive is the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Coal & Ore Wholesaling industry in the United States.

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