Contura optimistic about future sales growth, citing tight met supply and premium pricing: CEO

Contura remains optimistic about metallurgical coal pricing and company sales due to tight global supply and steady demand, despite seeing weaker sales in the first quarter than originally projected, CEO Kevin Crutchfield said Wednesday. “Notwithstanding the modest growth expectations in Europe and China [for met coal], the limited growth of new met mines, depletion of […]

U.S. Coal Exports Regained Momentum in January

US coal exports increased for the first time in three months in January following a recovery in thermal coal shipments to Europe and Asia. A total of 9.29mn short tons (8.42mn metric tonnes) of coal left US ports at the start of this year, according to Census Bureau data released today. That was up from […]

Coal-fired plants are closing but US coal exports are up

More than half the coal mines in the United States have closed over the past 10 years, reflecting a broad shift away from expensive coal-fired power generation to cheaper sources of power such as natural gas, wind and solar energy. Coal production peaked in 2008 and has fallen by more than one-third since then, according […]

EIA: In 2018, U.S. Coal Exports Were the Highest in Five Years

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau While U.S. coal consumption has generally declined since its 2008 peak, EIA expects that U.S. coal exports reached 116 million short tons (MMst) in 2018, the highest level in five years, based on foreign trade data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Exports […]

Alabama met coal industry, Port of Mobile helping each other grow

Few, if any, single entities are more important to Alabama’s economic success than the Port of Mobile. But the main industry fueling the port’s own surge might surprise some people. As announced Monday by the Alabama Coal Association (ACA), the Yellowhammer State’s metallurgical (met) coal industry is booming. This is the type of coal sometimes referred to […]

11 million tons of Alabama met coal shipped in 2018

The Alabama Coal Association says 11 million tons of mined met coal was exported last year. That adds up to $2 billion worth of metallurgical coal – which is used in steel production – being shipped out through the Port of Mobile. ACA President Patrick Cagle said in a statement that the mineral is “quietly […]

Alabama Coal Industry Posts Record in Met Coal Exports

Alabama’s coal industry posted a gain in 2018. According to the Alabama Coal Association, the state exported 11 million short tons of metallurgical (met) or “coking coal” last year. Valued at $2 billion, the met coal was shipped through the Port of Mobile to steel manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia. “Met coal is […]