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Hampton Roads coal exports up 28% in November

Coal exports from Virginia's Hampton Roads region were up in November, as the three terminals collectively exported 4,161,943 short tons in the month, 16.1% above October's exports and 28% over the year-ago month, Virginia Maritime Association data showed Thursday.

Year-to-date exports from the Dominion Terminal Associates, Lambert's Point and Pier IX terminals total 46,316,245 st, up 4.2% from the same period last year.

The steady stream of exports despite weak overseas pricing is likely a result of both legacy contracts signed when prices were higher, as well as efforts by the Eastern railroads that serve the terminals to lower rail rates in order to keep US producers competitive, market sources say.

In April, the US Energy Information Administration had forecast 2013 exports of 105 million st compared with the record 126 million st in 2012. But despite weak overseas pricing for most of the year, the agency's most recent projection from November forecasts exports of 118 million st in 2013.

The terminals do not comment on monthly export data. The terminals export both thermal and metallurgical coal.

Lambert's Point, owned and operated by Norfolk Southern, exported 1,835,690 st in November, up 19.5% from October and up 57.8% from November 2012.

Year-to-date exports at the terminal total 19,486,186 st, up 18.1% compared with the year-ago period.

Pier IX, owned and operated by Kinder Morgan, exported 909,923 st in November, down 19.2% from the prior month but up 1.8% compared with the year-ago month.

For the year, Pier IX coal exports total 12,488,571 st, down 11.5% compared with the year-ago period.

Dominion Terminal Associates, which is owned by Arch Coal, Peabody Energy and Alpha Natural Resources, exported 1,416,330 st in November, up 53.8% from October and up 18.6% from the year-ago month.

DTA's year-to-date exports total 14,341,488 st, up 3.5% compared with last year.

Coastwise coal shipments to domestic US locations from the three terminals in November totaled 63,343 st, down 46.9% from the previous month and down 43% year-over-year.

Year-to-date coastwise coal shipments total 1,231,648 st, down 10.5% from the year-ago period.

Source: Platts