India Becomes World’s 4th-Largest Fuel Producer, Coal Drives the Record Output
Brief By Abplive.com / 1:57 PM on 03 Sep 2026
India has strengthened its position in the global energy sector by becoming the world’s fourth-largest fuel producer in 2024. According to the latest figures, the country produced around 1.14 billion metric tonnes of mineral fuels during the year. However, the term “fuel” here covers more than petrol and diesel. It includes coal, crude oil and natural gas.
Coal emerged as the biggest contributor to India’s overall fuel production. The country produced around 1.085 billion tonnes of coal in 2024. In comparison, crude oil production stood at nearly 28.9 million tonnes, while natural gas production was around 28.8 million tonnes. This means coal alone accounted for almost 95% of India’s total fuel output.
India ranked fourth globally, behind China, the United States and Russia. China remained the world’s largest fuel producer, with approximately 4.81 billion tonnes of production in 2024. The United States followed in second place with around 2.28 billion tonnes, while Russia ranked third with nearly 1.46 billion tonnes. India occupied the fourth position with 1.14 billion tonnes.
Indonesia was fifth with approximately 921.4 million tonnes. Countries such as Australia, Saudi Arabia and Canada followed further down the ranking.
It is important to understand that this ranking does not mean India is the world’s fourth-largest producer of petrol and diesel. Instead, it combines the production of coal, crude oil and natural gas.
India also has a strong refining sector. By the financial year 2025, the country’s refining capacity had reached around 258.12 million tonnes per year. This allows India to meet a significant portion of its domestic fuel requirements while also exporting petroleum products to international markets.
Overall, the figures highlight the growing importance of India in the global energy landscape, with coal continuing to play the dominant role in the country’s fuel production.