Coal news and updates

Hampton Roads April coal exports down 37.2% from year ago

Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled 2.5 million st in April, down 28.3% from March and 37.2% lower than the year-ago month, data from the Virginia Maritime Association showed Wednesday.

The association does not comment on its monthly figures, but low seaborne prices are likely behind the dip in exports.

Discounting February's export total of 2 million st, which was affected by loading delays due to bad weather, the April figure is the lowest since November 2010.

April's figures also show a weak comparison to March loadings, which were boosted by delayed loadings from February.

Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, in Norfolk, Virginia, exported 1.1 million st in April, down 32.4% from the prior month and 26.2% from the year-ago month.

Through the first quarter, the terminal, which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern, has exported 4.3 million st, down 29.3% from the same period last year.

Pier IX in Newport News, Virginia, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan, exported 415,619 st in April, down 47.4% from March and 61% lower than April 2014.

For the year, Pier IX coal exports total 2.9 million st, down 32.1% compared with last year.

Dominion Terminal Associates in Newport News, which is owned by Arch Coal, Peabody Energy and Alpha Natural Resources, exported 1 million st in April, down 8.6% from last month and 30.9% from the year-ago month.

For the year, the terminal has exported 3.9 million st, down 33.2% from the same period last year.

Through April, the combined terminals have exported 11.2 million st, down 31.4% compared with the same period last year.

Coastwise shipments from the three terminals totaled 47,842 st in April, down 61.6% from the prior month and 71.4% lower than the year-ago month. For the year, coastwise shipments total 373,180 st, down 28.3% from last year.

source: http://www.platts.com