Coal exports from the US have increased 2% on the month to 10.99 MnT in May’19 compared with 10.74 MnT in Apr’19, as per the data provided by US customs. Export volumes recovered m-o-m post resumption of vessel movement over the Mississippi river following April floods.
Exports, however, continued its downward trend y-o-y as it fell 11% from 12.34 MnT in May’18.
During the first 5 months of CY19 (Jan’19-May’19), coal exports have totaled 54.9 MnT down 10% Y-o-Y from 61.2 MnT recorded in same period last year. The drop in exports is due largely to a fall in global coal demand, which had compelled coal producers to consider cutting back output.
As per the data provided by EIA, US coal production during the first quarter of CY19 totaled 179.5 million short tons (MMst), which was 6.7% lower than the previous quarter and 4.3% lower than the first quarter of 2018.
(1 US Short Ton equals 0.907 Metric Tonne)
Grade-wise Coal Exports:
US recorded a growth in both coking and non-coking coal shipments during the month, whereas Pet coke shipments had witnessed a drop in May’19.
Coking coal exports rose 14% M-o-M to 4.81 MnT in May’19 compared with 4.22 MnT in Apr’19.
US non-coking coal emerged as the second-largest traded coal commodity during the month, which was recorded at 3.31 MnT in May’19. Amid concerns regarding Pet coke usage in India, buyers have turned towards US non-coking coal market in order to meet their demand.
Exports of Pet Coke dropped to its lowest monthly total for CY19, marked at 2.67 MnT during May’19.
| Grades | May’19 | Apr’19 | % Change |
| Coking Coal | 4.81 | 4.22 | 14% |
| Non Coking Coal | 3.31 | 2.73 | 21% |
| Pet Coke | 2.67 | 3.17 | -16% |
| Met Coke | 0.07 | 0.06 | 17% |
| Anthracite | 0.01 | 0.04 | -75% |
| Others | 0.12 | 0.52 | -77% |
| Grand Total | 10.99 | 10.74 | 2% |
Source: US Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Importers:
India remained the largest coal receiver of US coal in May’19, with imports of 1.69 MnT coal. Import volume had registered a modest growth on the month from 1.64 MnT in Apr’19, but was 18% higher on the year from 1.43 MnT in May’18.
Japanese coal imports from the US increased 22% M-o-M to 1.61 MnT in May’19, which had jumped 64% on the year from 0.98 MnT in May’18.
Brazil overtook Netherlands to become the third-largest coal importer in May’19. Brazilian imports were marked at 0.8 MnT, down 10% M-o-M from 0.89 MnT in Apr’19.
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