Seaborne coal exports from the United States had plunged to a three-year low at 4.31 million tonnes (mn t) in May 2020, according to the country’s latest customs data. It was the lowest monthly exports since 4.00 mn t was exported in September 2016.
US coal shipments in May were down 14.1% from 5.02 mn t in April and 48.1% lower than 8.31 mn t in the year-ago month.
Cumulative export volumes during January to May 2020 totaled 27.62 mn t, down 29% compared with 38.92 mn t exported in the first five months of 2019.
Evidently, this year’s coal exports have shown a steep decline since March, as both metallurgical and thermal coals saw lower-than-expected global demand because of worldwide lockdowns following the coronavirus outbreak.
United States: Country-wise Coking Coal Export
US coking (metallurgical) coal exports declined 43.7% to 2.71 mn t in May’20, as compared to 4.81 mn t in May’19.
Year-to-date coking coal exports totaled 16.42 mn t in Jan-May’20, down 24% as against 21.61 mn t exported during the same period last year.
[Quantities in tonnes (t)]
United States: Country-wise Non-Coking Coal Export
US non-coking (thermal) coal exports declined 55.1% to 1.54 mn t in May’20, as compared to 3.43 mn t in May’19 amid decreased demand, particularly from India — the largest foreign buyer of US coal.
Year-to-date non-coking coal exports totaled 10.86 mn t in Jan-May’20, down 35.8% as against 16.91 mn t during the same period last year.
[Quantities in tonnes (t)]
By Aditya Sinha
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