Coal exports from Hampton Roads, Virginia, rose in February to the highest level in three years, reflecting strong demand for US coal amid tight international supply.

The three terminals at the port loaded about 2.95mn short tons (2.68mn metric tonnes) of coal for export during the month, according to data collected by the Virginia Maritime Association. The last time shipments were higher was in March 2019 when 3.26mn st were exported.

Exports were 49pc higher last month than they had been a year earlier, when demand was still recovering from measures to control the spread of Covid-19. Export and domestic coal shipments dropped in 2020 as global lockdowns limited coal demand.

February loadings were also 29pc above January 2022 volumes.

Coal export loadings rose at all three of Hampton Roads’ coal terminals from a year earlier.

The largest year-on-year increase occurred at Kinder Morgan’s Pier IX operation. The terminal loaded 711,563st last month, more than double the 275,995st handled in February 2021. Volume also rose by 30pc compared with the prior month.

Dominion Terminal Associates (DTA), co-owned by Arch Resources and Alpha Metallurgical Resources, loaded 1.18mn st of coal for export last month, up by 29pc compared with February 2021. DTA had handled 919,074st in the year-earlier month. Exports increased by 14pc compared with January.

Shipments out of Norfolk Southern’s Lamberts Point terminal rose to 1.06mn st last month, up compared with 788,205st in the same period of 2021. Exports also rose by 50pc compared with January exports of 705,166st.

View article here.