Coal’s return depends on new plants: Officials

Coal’s return depends on new plants: Officials

President Donald Trump administration’s effort to ease the regulatory burden on the coal industry has not been enough to stem the sector’s slide in the US. What is needed now is more support to build new, more efficient coal plants to replace lost capacity, industry executives said at the US Energy Association’s 15th Annual State […]

Tight coal supply limits Norfolk Southern rail hauls

Eastern US railroad Norfolk Southern (NS) expects export and domestic utility coal shipments to remain constrained in the first quarter, despite strong demand. NS chief marketing officer Alan Shaw said in an earnings call yesterday that utilities are “screaming for coal at this point.” Stockpiles at generators have fallen by 17 days over the past […]

Coal exports soared in Hampton Roads last year

All three coal terminals in Hampton Roads saw double-digit increases in exports last year when compared to 2017, and the port exported nearly twice as many tons as two years ago. But an end-of-the-year slowdown, coupled with worries over the global economy, has some analysts cautious heading into the new year. Hampton Roads — the […]

US coal sector’s credit health stabilizing on export opportunities

U.S. coal producers’ credit quality has generally stabilized over the past two years as companies focus on shareholder returns and increased capital spending after many producers cleansed the debt from their balance sheets through bankruptcy restructurings. Improved pricing, particularly for coal destined for export markets, has added to the sector’s improved financial condition despite expectations […]

US met coal exports total 5.29 million mt in October: US Census

US metallurgical coal exports in October totaled 5.29 million mt, up 42.8% from the prior month and up 25.2% from the year-ago month, according to data released Thursday by the US Census. It was also the second-highest total this year, behind 5.34 million mt in April. Top met coal export destinations in October were Japan, […]

Oakland Faces Lawsuit Over Obstruction of Coal Shipping

A developer fighting to export coal from a planned marine shipping terminal in Oakland sued the city in state court Tuesday, accusing local officials of obstructing the project. It’s the second lawsuit against the city over the Oakland Bulk & Oversized Terminal (OBOT). In May, a federal judge overturned a ban prohibiting the storage and […]

Coal still king in Hampton Roads despite container growth

On a sunny late summer morning, three ships lined the private coal terminals in Newport News, Va. At least a dozen more colliers waited their turn from a nearby anchorage. Right on cue, two McAllister Towing tugboats arrived at Dominion Terminal Associates (DTA) to assist one ship off the pier and make room for another. […]

US thermal coal exports jump to five-year high in September: Census

Houston — Due to a sharp decline in metallurgical coal exports, as well as a near weeklong disruption at the Port of Virginia from Hurricane Florence, US coal exports fell to a six-month low 8.6 million mt in September, down 5.7% from 9.12 million mt in August, but were capped off by thermal exports, which […]

US Hampton Roads coal exports jump 20% on month to 3.71 mil st in October

Coal exports out of the terminals in the Hampton Roads region in Virginia were at 3.71 million st in October, up 20.2% from the eight-month low 3.09 million st in September, Virginia Maritime Association data showed Friday. The October total was also up 20.3% from 3.08 million st in the year-ago month and the highest […]