Continuing its growing trend in CY17, US Coal Export has increased 23% M-o-M in Aug’17, according to the latest customs data. Coal export was 11.39 MnT in Aug’17, which was the highest monthly export total since Mar’14.
Coal Exports in Aug’17 were also 48% higher on the year compared with 7.68 MnT in Aug’16.Total coal export from the country has jumped 35% Y-o-Y to 81.89 MnT during Jan’17-Aug’17, compared with the exports of 60.67 MnT recorded during the same period in 2016.
Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Share of Coking coal was the highest among the exported coal grades in Aug’17, followed by Pet Coke and Non-Coking Coal. Exports of all these grades have increased during the month, and had accounted for more than 90% of the total monthly exports.
Met Coke and Anthracite were the other major coal exported during the month, with Exports of Met coke increasing 160% M-o-M to 0.13 while Anthracite coal export decline to 0.01 MnT in Aug’17.
| Grade | Aug’17 | Jul’17 | M-o-M |
| Coking Coal | 4.71 | 3.83 | 23% |
| Pet Coke | 3.49 | 2.72 | 28% |
| Non Coking Coal | 2.33 | 2.01 | 16% |
| Met Coke | 0.13 | 0.05 | 160% |
| Anthracite | 0.01 | 0.03 | -67% |
| Others | 0.74 | 0.64 | 16% |
| Grand Total | 11.39 | 9.28 | 23% |
Source: US Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Importers:
India remained the top coal importer from the US. Coal imports increased 64% M-o-M to 1.75 MnT in Aug’17, which was also 111% higher on the year compared with 0.83 MnT in Aug’16.
South Korea replaced Brazil to become the second-largest coal importer in Aug’17. Import from the country rose 27% M-o-M to 1.03 MnT, besides recording an increase of 171% Y-o-Y compared with 0.38 MnT in Aug’16.
Netherlands was the third-largest coal importer in Aug’17 with the imports of 0.92 MnT coal. The country too had registered increase in imports both on the monthly and yearly basis.
Source: US Customs | Quantity in MnT
US Coal Production:
US Coal production has rebounded after declining 5 weeks in a row, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Estimated coal production in the Week ended on 30 Sep’17 was 15.3 MMst*, 4.4% higher than the previous week’s production.
US year-to-date coal production totaled an estimated 593.7 MMst (as of 30 Sep’17), 12.3% higher than the comparable year-to-date coal production in 2016. Total coal production is expected to increase 8% in CY17.
*1 MMst (Million Metric Short Ton) = 0.927 MnT


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