Coal news and updates

August Hampton Roads coal exports surge higher but still down year on year

Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled just under 2 million st in August, up 18% from July but down 32.9% from the year-ago month, according to figures released Thursday by the Virginia Maritime Association.

While the association does not comment on its monthly figures, the weak seaborne market continues to negatively impact US coal exports. The Energy Information Administration said Wednesday it expects US coal exports to total just 79.5 million st in 2015, which would be off more than 18% from last year and off nearly 37% from peak exports of 126 million st in 2012.

Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, in Norfolk, Virginia, exported 1.1 million st in August, up 52.2% from the prior month but down 21.7% from the year-ago month.

The terminal, which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern, has exported nearly 8 million st year-to-date, down 34.5% from the same period last year.

Kinder Morgan's Pier IX, based in Newport News, Virginia, exported 244,360 st in August, it lowest monthly total dating back to at least January 2009. August's monthly total was down 15.2% from the previous month and down 65.2% compared with the year-ago month.

For the year, Pier IX coal exports total 4.4 million st, down 42.8% compared with last year.

Dominion Terminal Associates, also based in Newport News, which is owned by Arch Coal, Peabody Energy and Alpha Natural Resources, exported 677,542 st in August, down 3% from last month and down 25% from the year-ago month.

For the year, the terminal has exported 6.9 million st, down 28.9% from the same period last year.

Through August, the combined terminals have exported 19.3 million st, down 34.8% compared with the same period last year.

source: http://www.platts.com