Coal exports from the US in March 2013 reached 13.6 million short t, nearly 0.9 million short t above the previous monthly export peak in June 2012, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Increased Asian demand for coal contributed to the record level of coal exports. Of the record export tonnage, 6.3 million short t were thermal coal and 7.4 million short t were metallurgical coal.
The top five destinations for the exported coal (in descending order) during March were China, the Netherlands (a large transhipment point), the UK, South Korea and Brazil.
The EIA also predicted a third straight year of more than 100 million short t of coal exports in 2013, following annual exports of 107.3 million short t in 2011 and 125.7 million short t in 2012.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its first Short-Term Energy Outlook for 2013. The EIA predicts average Brent crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas prices spot prices will fall compared to 2012. Coal’s share of the energy mix will rise.
About 75% of US coal exports were shipped to Europe and Asia in 2012, continuing the growth of the past few years with exports this year expected to reach an all-time high, according to the US Energy Information Administration.