Coal news and updates

Prince Rupert coal exports jump in July but still down year on year

Coal exports from Canada's Ridley Terminals in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, totaled 575,000 mt in July, up 82% from June but down 30% from a year ago, according to the most recent figures released by the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Both metallurgical and thermal coal exports increased in July, which a port official chalked up to scheduling rather than any increase in contracted tonnage.

"I think all of the mines in Northeast BC that had contracts have now curtailed production entirely," said the official. The official believes thermal coal movements from the Powder River Basin are continuing, however.

So far this year, coal exports from the terminal -- which is the closest major coal export terminal to Asia -- total 2.75 million mt, down 44% compared with the same period last year.

The decline is largely due to the fall in seaborne prices for both met and thermal coal.

Met coal exports totaled 281,241 mt in July, up 79% from the prior month but down 46% from last year. For the year, met coal exports total 1.4 million mt, down 52.5% compared with last year.

Thermal coal exports totaled 249,682 mt, up 404.5% from the prior month and up 194% from the year-ago month. For the year, thermal coal exports total 798,000 mt, down 39% compared with last year.

Petcoke exports totaled 44,005 mt in June, down 59.7% from the prior month and down 79.4% from the year-ago month. For the year, petcoke exports total 545,330 mt, down 18.7% compared with last year.

The terminal's coal exports totaled 7.1 million mt in 2014 and 12.1 million mt in 2013.

source: http://www.platts.com