In the 1980s the coal prices again fell. This was due to the oil price behavior. During this period, the United States industry was characterized by a move towards low-sulfur coal. In 2008, competition is still abandoned in the coal mining industry with some U.S. mines impending the end of their useful life mine closure. Other major coal producing countries have also stepped up their production in order to win a portion of traditional U.S. export markets.