Coal and lignite consumption increased slightly by 0.2% despite the economic crisis
. It was made up of contrasts which further illustrate trends in world energy consumption during 2009
. Asia's consumption of coal
posted a high growth rate of 6.7 % where it supplies cement and steel plants and power stations which are expanding and despite the rise in coal prices in China (from $50/t to $90/t). Conversely, coal consumption in OECD countries, accounting for 32% of the total
, was scaled down by 8.5% in 2009: from -7.5% in Europe up to above -10% in the USA and -15.5% in Japan. Russian consumption of coal also reduced dramatically by 17.5%. In Latin America, the drop in Brazilian consumption was balanced by a surging demand of coal in Mexico. The region's consumption slightly rose by 0.9% in 2009. In the rest of developing countries, consumption of coal reduced by 1% to 2% (Pacific, Africa) or was stable (Middle East)
.