The 19th National Congress of the Party made a major political judgment that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. In this new era, what kinds of transformations will occur in the business models of coal enterprises, coal supply and demand, policy changes, and user commodity demands? What will be the future orientation, structure, and advantages of coal enterprises and the coal market? The author believes that grasping the following development trends is of great significance for future development:

　　First, we must pay attention to the overarching trend of transformation in the business models of coal enterprises. In the new era, the primary hallmark of coal enterprises’ transition toward the market is: “ Two merchants ” Strategy: From a mere coal producer and supplier in the past to... “ Two merchants ” Transformation is a major trend driving the transformation and development of today’s energy companies. For example, the former Shenhua Group... “ To become a world-class supplier of clean energy and provider of clean energy technology solutions. ” ; of the China National Coal Group “ Two merchants, one low. ” , among which “ Two merchants ” We are a clean energy service provider and technology solution provider.

　　Second, we must pay close attention to the broader trends in coal supply and demand. China’s coal supply-and-demand landscape is shifting from a fragmented structure to a more block-based one. As a result, the crucial role and strategic importance of western coal-producing regions will gradually become more prominent. In recent years, major coal-producing provinces in central and eastern China—such as Shandong, Hebei, Henan, and Anhui—have seen their production capacities decline, leading to an ever-widening gap between coal demand and local coal supply. In the future, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia will emerge as the primary sources of coal supply for China. At present, this block-based supply-and-demand pattern has largely taken shape and is continuously being refined and improved.

　　Third, pay close attention to the major changes in national transportation policy adjustments. In terms of transportation policy adjustments, the country is currently advancing... “ Railway-to-Road Transport ” The policy is being implemented to reduce road transport volume and increase rail transport volume.

　　This year 7 Moon 10 On [date], Li Xiaopeng, Minister of Transport, pointed out at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress that efforts should be made to phase out the acceptance of coal transported by diesel-powered vehicles at ports around the Bohai Sea. By the end of this year, major ports in the Bohai Sea region, Shandong Province, and the Yangtze River Delta region—as well as ports such as Tangshan Port and Huanghua Port—will no longer accept coal transported by diesel-powered trucks.

　　Meanwhile, efforts to regulate road freight vehicles will continue to be deepened. Currently, China is vigorously promoting the standardization of freight vehicle models, accelerating the replacement and phasing out of older vehicles, and implementing mandatory emission inspections and maintenance systems for motor vehicles. We are actively phasing out medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks meeting Emission Standard III or lower in key regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and its surrounding regions, as well as the Fenwei Plain, thereby reducing existing stockpiles of diesel truck pollution. At the same time, we are vigorously promoting the use of clean-energy vehicles and new-energy vehicles.

　　In the past, especially in short- and medium-distance transportation, there was a widespread phenomenon of highways aggressively vying for freight volume. Now, the policy protections and support that the state provides to rail transport mean that in the future, coal enterprises’ market competition will shift from controlling resources to controlling market space and key transportation corridors. Without strategic market planning and control over major transportation routes, it will be extremely difficult for these enterprises to achieve further development.

　　Fourth, we must pay close attention to the significant competitive advantages of market products. In terms of market product competition, in the future, users will demand not only the quantity of coal products but also their quality and cleanliness. We must clearly recognize that coal enterprises are resource-based; without resources as a foundation, any talk of sustainable enterprise development would be mere empty rhetoric. While advanced technological equipment and sophisticated production processes play an important supporting role, under otherwise equal conditions, enterprises with superior technological equipment and cutting-edge processes will naturally enjoy higher production efficiency and lower product costs, thereby better meeting user needs. Therefore, enterprises should first deeply explore the unique strengths of different coal varieties, and on this basis, continuously enhance their production technology levels, build high-quality, green coal brands, and thus boost their products’ competitiveness in the market.

　　In short, coal enterprises across the country are heading toward... “ Two merchants ” Transformation, fragmentation of supply and demand patterns, and modes of transportation “ Railway-to-Road Transport ” Focusing on the competitiveness of market products—this not only represents the broader context of China’s coal marketing today, but also constitutes four major trends shaping the future development of China’s coal industry. These trends will serve as valuable reference for coal enterprises when formulating their marketing strategies. (The author is Niu Kehong, Senior Research Fellow at the China Energy Research Association.)