Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled 2.8 million st in February, up 8.2% from the prior month and up 50.7% from the year-ago month, according to export data released Monday by the Virginia Maritime Association.
It was the highest monthly total since March 2015, and the fifth straight month of higher exports, as higher seaborne prices 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 1.16 million st in February, up 0.5% from January and up 23.5% from last year.
It was the also highest monthly total for the Norfolk, Virginia, terminal -- which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern -- since March 2015.
For the year, coal exports through the terminal totaled 2.3 million st, up 27.9% compared with the year-ago period.
Pier IX, based in Newport News, Virginia, exported 977,214 st in February, up 36.3% from the previous month and up 334% compared with the year-ago month.
It was also the highest monthly total since September 2014 for the terminal, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan.
Year-to-date, coal exports at the terminal totaled 1.7 million st, up 362% from last year.
Dominion Terminal Associates, also based in Newport News, exported 664,300 st in February, down 7.6% from the prior month and down 4.3% from last year.
For the year, exports at the terminal -- which is owned by Arch Coal, Contura Energy and Peabody Energy -- totaled 1.38 million st, down 9.6% from last year.
