West Virginia Benefits From Increased Global Demand for Coal

Coal is once again a hot commodity. The Wall Street Journal reports a surge in the international demand for coal to produce electricity, especially in underdeveloped countries that are still trying to bring cheap, reliable power to millions of people. The Energy Information Administration reports that U.S. coal exports doubled in 2017 and are expected […]

Hampton Roads coal exports reach 4-year high

Coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, set a new four-year high in August after slumping the previous three months. The port’s terminals handled 4.29mn short tons (3.89mn metric tonnes) of coal last month, up from 2.89mn st a year earlier, according to the Virginia Maritime Association. The last time the terminals handled more coal […]

U.S. rail volume up on freight demand

Demand for freight transportation continues to drive US railroad volume higher, with shipments up on the year by 4pc, Association of American Railroads (AAR) data show. “The US economy has been improving since the 2016 slowdown,” and railroads are committed to maintaining the economic momentum, AAR senior vice president of policy and economics John Gray […]

Asia continues to lead U.S. thermal coal exports

Asia remained the top destination for US thermal coal for a ninth straight month in July. Steam coal shipments destined for Asia grew to 1.86mn short tons (1.69mn metric tonnes) from 1.39mn st in July 2017, according to figures released today from the US Census Bureau. That accounted for nearly 39pc of total US thermal […]

Is Utah coal bound for Baja California? Officials strike a deal with the Mexican state, where a port could ship it overseas.

The West’s coal country has long sought to offset declining domestic coal consumption through exports to Pacific Rim countries. But politically liberal West Coast cities and states have gotten in the way, obstructing proposals for new coal-handling terminals. Now, Utah is looking south of the U.S. border to ship its coal and possibly natural gas […]

Is Utah coal bound for Baja California? Officials strike a deal with the Mexican state, where a port could ship it overseas.

The West’s coal country has long sought to offset declining domestic coal consumption through exports to Pacific Rim countries. But politically liberal West Coast cities and states have gotten in the way, obstructing proposals for new coal-handling terminals. Now, Utah is looking south of the U.S. border to ship its coal and possibly natural gas […]

The One Market That’s Sure To Help Coal

“Urbanization helps pull people out of poverty and advances progress towards the Millennium Development Goals,” The World Bank As still the world’s leading source of electricity (most critically, overwhelmingly so in all-important China and India) at 37-40% of all supply, and still generating 30% of U.S. power, coal is obviously not dead. But beyond electricity, […]

U.S. coal cargoes heading for China as Beijing takes aim with new tariffs

BEIJING (Reuters) – At least four cargoes of U.S. coal worth $30 million (£23.32 million) are headed to China as Beijing prepares to hit imports with hefty 25-percent tariffs, threatening a niche supply of the fuel even as China’s appetite for foreign coal shows no sign of abating. The vessels, carrying a combined 335,000 tonnes […]

Coal exports should grow, but uncertainties linger

The US coal export market is expected to stay strong through next year, but shifting international dynamics and domestic logistics hiccups could upset the outlook. New coal power plants outside the US, along with infrastructure constraints and domestic sales quotas in some countries, are helping to keep the worldwide supply and demand balance tight, coal […]

Developing world using more coal, offsetting cuts elsewhere

A decrease in coal consumption in the developed world will be matched by an increase in the developing world, according to major energy outlooks. Between 2015 and 2040, the Energy Information Administration predicts a 90% increase in coal demand in India and 80% in other countries in non-OECD Asia. Africa, the Middle East and South […]