Blog

Collier Ships are back on the Horizon

Coal is back. According to the US Energy Information Administration, coal exports are projected to climb to 83.8 million st (short ton) in 2021, up from the four-year low of 69.1 million st in 2020. Exports are expected to increase again in 2022 to 99.1 million st. Thermal coal export volumes are estimated at 36.9 […]

China’s boycott of Australia has redirected global flows of coal

Since Beijing instituted an unofficial boycott of Australian coal last October in a major escalation of the two countries’ trade conflict, global flows of coal have undergone a major reshuffling. While Chinese imports of Australian coal have effectively dropped off to zero, imports from other countries have shot up to fill the gap. After all, coal makes up […]

Hampton Roads coal exports rose by 8pc in July

Coal exports from Hampton Roads, Virginia, rose by 8pc in July amid high international demand for coal. The terminals handled 2.46mn short tons (2.23mn metric tonnes) of coal last month, compared with 2.29mn st in July 2020, according to estimates from the Virginia Maritime Association. July loadings were slightly below the 2.49mn st handled in […]

US coal shipments to China surge more than 30-fold amid Australian trade dispute

U.S. coal shipments to China leaped more than 30-fold in the second quarter, as miners took further advantage of the Asian powerhouse’s prolonged trade dispute with Australia. Deliveries surpassed 2.4 million tonnes compared to just 75,000 tonnes a year earlier, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis of industry data. The surge fueled a […]

Coal price rally seen to continue on robust China’s demand

Coal prices have rallied in the past week as strong demand for the power-station fuel, particularly from China, exceeded supply, with coal futures shooting up to multi-year highs of above $170 a tonne. Coal futures at US ICE stood at around $172 per tonne today, 18 August – more than double January’s level of around […]

US coal exports on the mend despite mixed long-term outlook

The amount of coal shipped from U.S. shores rose during the second quarter, buoyed by robust demand from international markets, particularly in Asia. Exports of U.S. coal jumped 52.5% year over year to 20.6 million tonnes in the June quarter from 13.5 million tonnes, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis. In 2020, the […]

Hampton Roads coal exports tick higher in June as global demand picks up

US coal exports from the Hampton Roads region of Virginia totaled 2.6 million st in June, up 2.2% from May and up 66% from June 2020, according to data released July 27 by the Virginia Maritime Association. US coal continued to find markets as prices for global thermal coal and metallurgical coal continued to push […]

US coal exports hit 2-year high in June

US coal exports reached a two-year high in June, helped by a surge in shipments to China, India and Japan. A total 7.84mn short tons (7.1mn metric tonnes) of coal left US ports during the month, US Census data released today show. The last time exports were higher was in June 2019. Exports for the […]

US coal exports reach two-year high in June: Census

The US exported a combined total of 7.11 million mt thermal and metallurgical coal in June, the highest monthly level since June 2019, according to Census Bureau data released Aug. 5. Thermal coal accounted for 3.25 million mt and met coal 3.86 million mt of US coal exported in June, a year on year increase […]

Record U.S. Coal Shipment to China Highlights Australia’s Pain

China’s import ban on Australian coal is proving a boon to U.S. producers. On June 28, the Frontier Unity bulk vessel left the port of Newport News, Virginia with a 136,400-ton cargo bound for steelmakers in China. It was the biggest shipment of its kind from a U.S. east coast port, according to miner Coronado Global […]