Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled slightly more than 1.7 million st in May, down 1.2% from the prior month and down 29.9% from the year-ago month, according to export data released Tuesday by the Virginia Maritime Association.
On a year-to-date basis, exports from the three terminals in the region total 8.7 million st, down 35.8% compared with the same period last year, as a global lack of demand continues to drag down exports of US thermal and metallurgical coal.
At the three individual terminals in Hampton Roads, Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, exported 744,136 st in May, up 7.1% from April but down 31.6% from last year.
The Norfolk, Virginia terminal -- which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern -- has exported 4 million st so far this year, down 25.5% compared with the year-ago period.
Kinder Morgan's Pier IX, based in Newport News, Virginia, exported 242,082 st in May, down 27.3% from the previous month and down 37% compared with the year-ago month. Exports on a year-to-date basis total 1.3 million st, down 60.3% from last year.
Dominion Terminal Associates, also based in Newport News, exported 730,822 st in May, up 2.7% from the prior month but down 25.1% from last year.
The terminal, which is owned by Arch Coal, Peabody Energy and Alpha Natural Resources, has exported 3.4 million st through May, down 30.6% from last year.
