US coal exports continued gains in May

US coal exports continued gains in May

US coal shipments abroad totaled 9.65mn short tons (8.75mn metric tonnes) in May, up by 33.2pc from a year earlier. That represented the 19th straight month of year-over-year gains. May exports were down from April’s five-year high, but still represented the second-highest export level in nearly five years. The last time exports were as high, […]

US coal still in demand overseas because of high seaborne prices

In the US export market this week, a CFR deal for Northern Appalachia coal, basis 6,900 kcal/kg, for August loading was heard at a price greater than $110/mt. NAPP coal continues to price into India as a result of relatively high coal prices, as well as ongoing uncertainty around the country’s proposed ban on certain […]

Illinois basin coal: Export support continues

Coal prices in the Illinois basin followed international markets higher as sellers preferred to export coal than to take lower prices in domestic sales. Prompt quarter 11,500 Btu/lb 5lb SO²/mmBtu coal climbed by 25¢/short ton to $39.35/st fob barge. Prices for third quarter deliveries of 11,800 Btu/lb 4.5lb SO2/mmBtu and 11,000 Btu/lb 6lb SO2/mmBtu coals […]

Exports give US rail coal volume a boost

US rail coal shipments have defied expectations and have remained steady, bolstered by unexpected strength in coal exports. “The export coal is doing better than we thought or anyone else thought,” CSX chief executive James Foote said on 7 June. “And it looks like it will be stronger throughout the second half of the year […]

US coal exports reach 5-year high

US coal exports climbed to a five-year high in April on trade with relatively new customers. Shipments rose to just under 11.1mn short tons (10.1mn metric tonnes) from 7.24mn st a year earlier, according to US Census Bureau data released today. The last time exports were higher was in March 2013, when they totaled 13.6mn […]

Metallurgical coal exports up double-digits in 2017

Not every part of the coal industry is hurting. While thermal coal has seen better days, metallurgical coal — the kind used in the steel-making process — has seen a strong uptick in production and sales. The boost in metallurgical coal is due in large part to the amount of exports, which jumped 35 percent […]

U.S. coal exports increased by 61% in 2017 as exports to Asia more than doubled

The United States exported 97.0 million short tons (MMst) of coal in 2017, a 61% (36.7 MMst) increase from the 2016 level. Exports to Asia more than doubled from 15.7 MMst in 2016 to 32.8 MMst in 2017, although Europe continues to be the largest recipient of U.S. coal exports. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, […]

Anglo-American 2017 thermal coal production for export falls

Miner Anglo-American PLC reported a drop in export thermal coal production for the seaborne market from its operations in Colombia and South Africa, the company said Thursday. South African sales volumes dropped 3% to 18.6 million mt with continued productivity improvements at underground operations more than offset by a self-enforced 100-hour safety stoppage at all […]

How much coal does the U.S. export and import?

The United States is a net exporter of coal. However, some coal is still imported, mostly for power plants on the eastern and southern coasts of the country, where it is cheaper to ship in coal by sea from South America than transport it from mines in the northern and western United States. In the […]