Coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, reached their highest level in more than three years in July, driven by strong international demand for US steam and metallurgical coals amid a global shortage of supply.

Shipments last month totaled 3.05mn short tons (2.77mn metric tonnes), up by 24pc compared with 2.46mn st handled in July 2021, according to data from the Virginia Maritime Association. Volume was up by 16pc compared with June 2022.

The last time exports from Hampton Roads broke the 3mn st ceiling was in March 2019 when the three coal terminals in the area handled 3.26mn st.

Exports from Norfolk Southern’s Lamberts Point terminal rose to 1.27mn st last month from 901,418st in July 2021. Coal loadings climbed by 36pc from June 2022.

Kinder Morgan’s Pier IX was the next busiest terminal in Hampton Roads, exporting 940,138st in July. That was 84pc higher than in July 2021 and more than double the 293,432st handled in June 2022.

Dominion Terminal Associates (DTA) was the only one of the three major Hampton Roads terminals to export less coal on the year and compared with June 2022. DTA, which is jointly owned by Arch Resources and Alpha Metallurgical Resources, shipped 835,429st to international customers in July compared with 1.05mn st a year earlier and 1.39mn st in June 2022.

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