Having dealt with weak global demand and dismal prices, the company said it would be focussing on selling its Buchanan low-volume HCC to customers in the US, Europe, Brazil, South Korea and India.

Spot prices in China’s steelmaking industry are at a global low, in addition to the higher freight costs when exporting form the US, making china an unviable market for the company.

Consol blamed weak demand, particularly from Asia, and low export pricing for its decision to reduce work hours at its Buchanan mine in Virginia, cutting 188 jobs.

Buchanan shipped 1.1 million short tonnes in the first quarter of 2014, of which 489,000t were sold to China.