Houston — Coal exports from the Ridley Terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, totaled 799,570 mt in July, up 12.9% from 707,925 mt in June and 13.2% from 706,639 mt in the year-ago month, according to data from the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

The total, which combines metallurgical and thermal coal, was the third highest for any month since 2014, behind only 982,516 mt in March of this year and 833,584 mt in September 2017. It was also the most for any July since 964,358 mt was exported in July 2013.

The 4.81 million mt exported in the first seven months of the year was up 5.9% from the same period a year ago and was the most through July since 6.23 million mt was exported in 2013.

Met coal exports from the terminal were at 542,678 mt in July, up 132% from June and 84% higher than the year-ago month.

Since January 1, met exports are at 3.14 million mt, down 5.5% from a year ago.

Thermal coal exports were at 256,892 mt in July, down from a 3.5-year high 474,054 mt in June and 411,415 mt in the year-ago month. The 730,946 mt total was the most exported in a two-month period since 732,854 mt was shipped out in September and October 2015.

Year-to-date thermal exports are now at 1.67 million mt, up 37% from the first seven months of 2018 and the most since 2.05 million mt in 2012.

Canadian National railroad serves the Ridley Terminal, the closest major North American coal export terminal to Asia. The largest customer is Conuma Coal Resources, a met coal producer in British Columbia.

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