Blog

11 coal ships depart from Baltimore in week ended March 21: cFlow

Eleven coal-laden ships departed from Baltimore in the week ended March 21, up from six from a week earlier, according to cFlow, Platts’ trade flow software. The total dead-weight tonnage of the departures was 842,940 dwt, up from 608,954 dwt in the prior week, according to the data. Six of the coal carriers remained in […]

US Q1 thermal coal exports forecast to be 8 million mt, downside risk remains

S&P Global Platts Analytics projects approximately 8 million mt of US thermal coal exports in the first quarter, steady comparable to Q1 2020, but significant risks remain by way of heightened freight prices, the weekly US Coal Market Forecast said March 11. Elevated freight rates, for Panamax in particular, are affecting US exports to all […]

US thermal coal exports extended gains in January

Washington, 5 March (Argus) — US thermal coal exports rose for a third straight month in January on the strength of demand from some customers in Asia and Latin America. The US exported 2.5mn short tons (2.3mn metric tonnes) of steam coal during the month, up from 2.4mn st a year earlier, US Census Bureau […]

US coal exports drop 7% YOY in Q4’20; China emerges among top importers

U.S. coal shipments to some of the country’s top importers increased significantly in the fourth quarter of 2020, with China recording a triple-digit uptick amid its escalating trade dispute with Australia. Total U.S. coal exports during the three-month period fell 7.3% year over year to 17.4 million tonnes from 18.8 Mt, according to an analysis […]

China’s US coal imports jump 748% in Q4’20 amid Australian trade dispute

China emerged as one of the top importers of U.S. coal in the fourth quarter of 2020 as the country banned Australian coal from entering its territories amid diplomatic tensions. U.S. coal exports in the three-month period totaled 17.4 million tonnes, down 7.3% year over year but 25.1% higher quarter over quarter, according to data […]

US coal exports rise for first time in more than a year

US coal exports ended 2020 on a high note, rising on a year over year basis for the first time since January 2019. A little over 7mn short tons (6.35mn metric tonnes) of coal left US ports in December, US Census Bureau data released today showed. That was little changed from November 2020 but a […]

Utah is suing a California city over its coal ban

Utah has fully joined the latest round of lawsuits over exporting coal through West Coast ports, this one brought by Utah coal-producer Wolverine Fuels fighting one city’s coal ban that threatens to disrupt an export program that helps keep Utah mines churning.The ordinance passed last year by the Richmond City Council triggers a three-year phaseout on the shipping of […]