State Coal Industry’s Future Lies in Met Coal

For years, Arch Coal has sat on reserves of high-quality metallurgical coal in Barbour County while it developed its Leer mining complex to the north in Taylor County. Now the time has come to develop those reserves while the world demand for met coal is growing. On Feb. 14, Arch Coal announced it will invest […]

U.S. Coking Coal Exports Rise Further in November

U.S. coking coal exports rose by 3pc on the year in November, as strong Asian demand offset a dip in shipments to Europe and South America, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. exported 4mn metric tonnes in November, down from 5.3mn t in October, but up from 3.9mn t in November […]

US coal exports drop for first time in 2 years

US coal exports fell for the first time in two years in November, dragged down by a drop in thermal bituminous shipments. Volumes declined to a 10-month low of 8.87mn short tons (8.05mn metric tonnes) from 9.05mn st in November 2017. Thermal coal exports dropped to 4.45mn st from 4.76mn st a year earlier. The […]

Vancouver coal export project permit canceled

Vancouver, British Columbia, port officials have revoked a permit to allow a local terminal to build a 4mn metric tonnes/year coal export facility that would have primarily handled US Powder River basin (PRB) coal. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority on 30 January canceled a 2014 permit that would have allowed Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD) to […]

Hampton Roads coal exports climbed in January

Coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, started out the year strongly, rising 18pc in January compared with a year earlier. Shipments last month climbed to 3.43mn short tons (3.11mn metric tonnes) from 2.91mn st in January 2018, according to data from the Virginia Maritime Association. That was the highest level since 3.71mn st were […]

U.S. Coal Exports Take Record Share of Production

U.S. coal exports last year made up the largest share of production in 60 years, amid diminishing domestic consumption and growing Asian demand, the CEO of Doyle Trading Consultants (DTC) told Montel. “The percent of U.S. coal going to the export market is essentially at an all-time high – it’s the highest level since the […]

Marine fuel rules will challenge US coal exports

Coal traders will face higher freight costs starting later this year, as shippers gear up for tighter marine fuel standards in 2020, participants said at an industry conference. The International Maritime Organization’s changes, which will cut sulfur limits in marine fuel to 0.5pc from the current 3.5pc starting on 1 January 2020, will push shippers’ […]

Wyoming To Sue Washington State Over Coal Terminal Block

Saying numerous environmental requirements and hurdles have been cleared, Wyoming legislators are now accusing Washington state of playing politics. Media sources in Wyoming and here report money is being set aside for them to sue Washington state over blocking construction of a coal export terminal on the WA coast. And, they say it’s political–that WA […]

US exports to continue to shift to Asia: Update

Asia’s influence over the US coal export market will continue to grow as demand from traditional international customers fades, industry members said at a conference today. “We all expect that demand in the Atlantic market is going to be down, or flat at best,” Jack Porco, president of US producer and trader Xcoal, said at […]

Coal’s return depends on new plants: Officials

President Donald Trump administration’s effort to ease the regulatory burden on the coal industry has not been enough to stem the sector’s slide in the US. What is needed now is more support to build new, more efficient coal plants to replace lost capacity, industry executives said at the US Energy Association’s 15th Annual State […]