Coal transport: Eastern rail rates mixed

Coal transport: Eastern rail rates mixed

Rail rates to US east coast export terminals rose this month as some buyers reentered global markets, while domestic rates dropped as utility demand remained limited. The rate to ship coal from the Pittsburgh Seam and Central Appalachia to export terminals rose by 15¢/short ton to $29.75/st and $35.75/st, respectively, compared with May assessments. Rising […]

BNSF must haul 4.2mn st of Montana coal: STB

US rail regulators have ordered western US railroad BNSF to haul 4.2mn short tons of coal this year from producer Navajo Transitional Energy Company’s (NTEC) mine in Montana to a Canadian export terminal. The delivery of those 4.2mn st (3.8mn metric tonnes) must be spread equally throughout the year at a pace of 23 trains/month, […]

US thermal coal exports resume gains in May

US thermal coal exports resumed year-on-year increases in May despite flagging demand from buyers in Europe. Steam coal shipments climbed to just over 4mn short tons (3.63mn t) from 3.07mn st in May 2022, according to US Commerce Department data released on 6 July. This followed an 11pc decrease in exports in April. May’s year-on-year gain was […]

Appalachian coal output climbed in 1Q

Appalachian coal production increased in the first quarter of 2023 to meet higher demand from seaborne coal markets. Northern and Central Appalachian coal mines produced a combined 38.9mn short tons (35.3mn metric tonnes) in the first quarter, up by 4.3pc from the same quarter in 2022, according to US Mine Safety and Health Administration data. […]

US coal exports, rail volumes at multi-year highs

US coal exports in March rose to the highest in more than four years, helping to boost first-quarter US shipments and volumes at eastern US railroads. US ports in March shipped 9.48mn short tons (8.6mn metric tonnes) of coal, up from 7.31mn st a year earlier and the most since October 2018, according to US […]

U.S. coal exports remained relatively unchanged between 2021 and 2022

In 2022, 84.8 million short tons (MMst) of coal were exported from the United States, relatively unchanged from the 85.1 MMst exported in 2021. Steam coal accounted for 45% of all U.S. coal exports in 2022; metallurgical coal accounted for 55%. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used by coal-fired power plants for […]

State exports of coal and other goods growing

The export of products from West Virginia is growing, especially coal. Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday during an administration briefing that the state’s export market grew for the third consecutive year in 2022, hitting $7.9 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent trade statistics. That is a 20 percent increase from 2021. Coal exports […]

U.S. coal exports remained relatively unchanged between 2021 and 2022

In 2022, 84.8 million short tons (MMst) of coal were exported from the United States, relatively unchanged from the 85.1 MMst exported in 2021. Steam coal accounted for 45% of all U.S. coal exports in 2022; metallurgical coal accounted for 55%. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is used by coal-fired power plants for […]

US steam coal exports rise again in February

US thermal coal exports rose for a second month in February on extended gains to Europe and higher demand from India. Exporters shipped 3.87mn short tons (3.51mn metric tonnes) of US steam coal during the month, up by 22pc from a year earlier, according to US Commerce Department data released today. Metallurgical coal shipments also […]