Unlike the metal, mineral and oil industries, all of which are linked to the use of coal, there are no leading companies or entities which fully dominate the coal industry. With the growing globalization of other industries, the world’s coal industry still remains fragmented and dominated by domestic producers. It is largely a mix of domestic private companies and state enterprises with significant stakes starting to be taken in the industry by metal and mining conglomerates.

However, as demand for coal increases and prices rise, the coal industry is more and more in the sites of global capital. Years 2006 and 2007 saw some acquisitions of many smaller coal mines by giant firms, and this may be just the beginning.