Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled 2.59 million st in January, up 25.3% from the prior month and up 40.3% from the year-ago month, according to Virginia Maritime Association export data released Monday.
It was the highest monthly total since March 2015.
The increase is likely due to a number of deals booked late last year as higher international seaborne prices brought increased demand for US thermal and metallurgical coals.
At the three individual terminals in Hampton Roads, Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, exported 1.15 million st in January, up 22.3% from December and up 32.7% from last year.
It was the also highest monthly total for the Norfolk terminal, which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern since March 2015.
Pier IX, based in Newport News, exported 716,892 st in January, up 205.6% from the previous month and up 408.6% compared with the year-ago month. It was also the highest monthly total since 2015 for the terminal, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan.
Dominion Terminal Associates, also based in Newport News, exported 718,971 st in January, down 19.2% from the prior month and down 14% from last year.
