US thermal coal exports rose to their highest level in nearly three years in September, led by jumps in shipments to some countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

About 4.91mn short tons (4.46mn metric tonnes) of thermal coal and anthracite departed US ports during the month, up from 3.39mn st in the same period of 2025, preliminary data from the US Commerce Department showed Wednesday. The last time exports were higher was in October 2023, when they totaled 4.95mn st.

September was the seventh straight month that US steam coal exports topped year-earlier levels. For the third quarter overall, shipments climbed by more than 28pc on the year prior to 12.7mn st.

In both September and the third quarter overall exports to Asia accounted for significant proportions of the increases in US steam coal exports. During the month, 2.71mn st of US thermal coal was headed to Asia, up from 1.49mn st in September 2025.

US thermal coal exports to India and South Korea rose from a year earlier in September, more than offsetting decreased shipments to Japan and other countries in Asia. India, South Korea and Japan typically are the largest Asian destinations for US steam coal.

Exports to India jumped to 1.83mn st from a little under 1.1mn st a year earlier, reflecting increased interest from industrial buyers as coal continued to hold a competitive advantage over petroleum coke.

The drop in exports to Japan was primarily in US sub-bituminous coal, which decreased to 88,320st from 305,611st. US bituminous thermal coal exports to Japan increased to 98,870st from 86,740st.

Both sub-bituminous and bituminous exports to South Korea rose in September from year-earlier levels. Japan and South Korea remained the primary destinations for US sub-bituminous coal although small amounts of this type of coal also were destined for Germany, Mexico and Belgium.

Overall, sub-bituminous coal exports climbed to a three-month high of 715,034st in September from 443,532st a year earlier. Exports of bituminous thermal coal climbed to 4.11mn st, the highest since October 2024, from 2.75mn st.

US thermal coal exports to Europe jumped by 54pc from a year earlier in September to 784,231st reflecting buyer interest in stocking up on coal in case of natural gas supply shortages during the winter because of tensions around the strait of Hormuz. Shipments to the Netherlands more than doubled to 762,316st from 335,557st. Exports to Norway and Spain also edged higher, more than offsetting a drop in shipments to Germany.

US thermal coal exports to countries in Central and South America also increased in September when compared with a year earlier. This primarily reflected higher shipments to Costa Rica and Brazil.

But exports to some other destinations in the Americas as well as some parts of northern Africa declined. Combined shipments to Canada and Egypt, both considered relatively small takers, fell to 133,710st and zero in September from 184,681st and 559,254st a year earlier. The drop in exports to Egypt as well as a slight decrease in shipments to smaller trading partners in Africa overpowered a 95pc increase in shipments to Morocco to bring overall US thermal coal exports to Africa down to 937,787st from 1.06mn st.

Third-quarter gains almost mirror September

Movements in US thermal coal exports for the third quarter were somewhat less dramatic for some destinations than the September changes. Shipments to Asia climbed by 52pc from July-September 2025 to 6.44mn st, led by greater exports to India, Japan and South Korea.

US thermal coal exports to Europe climbed to 1.91mn st in the third quarter from 1.19mn st in the same period of 2025, while shipments to Central and South America increased by nearly 13pc to 1.03mn st.

Steam coal exports to Africa were little changed last quarter compared with a year earlier, slipping to 2.9mn st from 2.91mn st.

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