In its NMA International Coal Review, the group noted an 11.2% jump in exports because of the greater value the exchange rate has created. Specifically, bituminous coal was up 11.2%, with metallurgical coal up 17.8%.
Asia was the top recipient of US coal during the year’s first half, mainly China and India. Bottleneck conditions in the world’s top export nation, Australia, created a higher than normal need for the nation’s output from Europe, and a rain-soaked Indonesia felt the impact in its ability to transport steam coal.
Imported coal accounts for some 3% of all consumption in the United States, the NMA found in its review. That trend continues to rise, it said, especially with East Coast power producers that have the terminal abilities to bring coal in from countries such as Colombia and Indonesia.
