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 […]

Tight coal supply limits Norfolk Southern rail hauls

Eastern US railroad Norfolk Southern (NS) expects export and domestic utility coal shipments to remain constrained in the first quarter, despite strong demand. NS chief marketing officer Alan Shaw said in an earnings call yesterday that utilities are “screaming for coal at this point.” Stockpiles at generators have fallen by 17 days over the past […]

Virginia coal exports rose in 2018, but future uncertain

The three coal terminals in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region saw double-digit increases in exports last year, but a global economy that shows signs of slowing worries some analysts. The Virginian-Pilot reports that the biggest coal-exporting port in North America finished 2018 at nearly 43 million tons (39 million metric tons), a 22-percent rise from 2017 and […]

Coal exports soared in Hampton Roads last year

All three coal terminals in Hampton Roads saw double-digit increases in exports last year when compared to 2017, and the port exported nearly twice as many tons as two years ago. But an end-of-the-year slowdown, coupled with worries over the global economy, has some analysts cautious heading into the new year. Hampton Roads — the […]

US coal sector’s credit health stabilizing on export opportunities

U.S. coal producers’ credit quality has generally stabilized over the past two years as companies focus on shareholder returns and increased capital spending after many producers cleansed the debt from their balance sheets through bankruptcy restructurings. Improved pricing, particularly for coal destined for export markets, has added to the sector’s improved financial condition despite expectations […]

Hampton Roads coal exports slipped in November

Coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, fell for the second time in three months in November, data from the Virginia Maritime Association show. Terminals at the port handled a little under 3.11mn short tons (2.82mn metric tonnes) last month, compared with 3.37mn st a year earlier. The association did not explain why shipments had […]

Asia, Europe push US exports higher

US coal exports reached their highest level in six months in October, propelled by steady trading with Asia and Europe. International shipments climbed to 10.7mn short tons (9.69mn metric tonnes) from 9.13mn st a year earlier, data released today from the US Census Bureau show. That was the highest level of exports since April, when […]

US met coal exports total 5.29 million mt in October: US Census

US metallurgical coal exports in October totaled 5.29 million mt, up 42.8% from the prior month and up 25.2% from the year-ago month, according to data released Thursday by the US Census. It was also the second-highest total this year, behind 5.34 million mt in April. Top met coal export destinations in October were Japan, […]

Oakland Faces Lawsuit Over Obstruction of Coal Shipping

A developer fighting to export coal from a planned marine shipping terminal in Oakland sued the city in state court Tuesday, accusing local officials of obstructing the project. It’s the second lawsuit against the city over the Oakland Bulk & Oversized Terminal (OBOT). In May, a federal judge overturned a ban prohibiting the storage and […]