US Coal Exports Up 4% M-o-M in Mar’18

US coal exports have continued its remarkable run in Mar’18. According to the data provided by US customs, coal export in Mar’18 had increased 4% on the month to 12.27 MnT from 11.75 MnT in Feb’18, and was also 8% higher on the year compared with 11.37 MnT in Mar’17.

Coal exports from the country have not only registered regular increase on the monthly basis in CY18, but have also posted growth on the year-on-year basis, during each of the first 3 months of CY18.

US coal exports have totaled 35.24 MnT during the first quarter of CY18, up 15% Y-o-Y compared with 30.73 MnT recorded during the corresponding period of last year.

Grade-wise Coal Export:
Exports of all the major coal grades had increased on the month, except Coking coal whose imports had dropped 7% M-o-M to 4.51 MnT in Mar’18 against 4.84 MnT in Feb’18.

Pet Coke was the second-largest exported coal grade, whose shipments had increased 3% M-o-M to 3.64 MnT. Besides, Non-coking coal imports had jumped 26% on the month to 3.5 MnT in Mar’18.

Source: US Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Importers:
India remained the largest receiver of US coal. The country had also procured its highest monthly coal shipment from the US in Mar’18 since CY10 (the period upto which CoalMint has compiled data for US coal exports).

Indian coal imports had increased 84% M-o-M to 2.59 MnT in Mar’18, which was also 107% higher on the year compared with 1.25 MnT in Mar’17.

US have emerged as an alternative source of non-coking coal for Indian buyers, who also procure Pet Coke and Coking coal from the country. Last year, India was the largest importer of US coal with 16.96 MnT.

Japan was the second-largest coal receiver in Mar’18, followed by Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Netherlands.

Source: US Customs | Quantity in MnT