Metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, is a type of coal specifically used in the production of steel. It has a high carbon content and low impurities, making it ideal for the coking process, where coal is heated in the absence of air to produce coke. This coke is then used in blast furnaces to smelt iron ore into iron. Unlike thermal coal, which is used primarily for electricity generation, metallurgical coal is essential for industries that require high-quality steel. Major producers of metallurgical coal include countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States, which supply it to steel manufacturers worldwide.