US fuel grade petcoke exports totaled 4 million mt in March, up 27% from the prior month and up 29% compared with the year-ago month, US Census Bureau data showed.
It was the highest combined month for non-calcined and calcined petcoke exports since January 2011, when the total was 5.2 million mt, as exports to Brazil, China, Mexico and Turkey all experienced at least double-digit growth.
On a year-to-date basis, US fuel grade petcoke exports total 10.1 million mt, up 12.8% from the same period in 2016. The US is on an annualized pace to export 40.3 million mt in 2017, up 13.3% compared with 2016, the data show.
India took delivery of the highest volume of US petcoke exports in March at 467,709 mt, but that was down 22% from February and down 40.2% from the year-ago month. On a year-to-date basis, exports to India are down 13.4%, according to the data.
Brazil had the second highest volume of US petcoke imports at 439,359 mt, up 324% from February and up 698% from the year-ago month. On a year-to-date basis, Brazilian imports of US petcoke are up 60%.
China took delivery of 432,976 mt of US petcoke during the month, down 19% from February, but up 68% year on year and its imports are up 88% year-to-date.
Mexico took delivery of 417,266 mt of US petcoke, up 17% from February, up 129% from the year-ago month, and its imports are up 51% year-to-date.
Turkey had the fifth highest volume of US petcoke imports at 406,506 mt, and while that total was down 5% from February, it was up 103% from the year-ago month and the country's imports are up 17% year-to-date.
HOUSTON/GALVESTON LEADING PORT BY VOLUME
On the origination side, Houston and Galveston had the highest volume of petcoke exports at 1.2 million mt in March, up 139.5% from February and up 94% from the year-ago month. On a year-to-date basis, exports from Houston and Galveston have totaled 2.4 million mt, up 27% year on year. New Orleans shipped 963,868 mt in March, down 15.7% from February and down 5.8% compared with the year-ago month. On a year-to-date basis, exports from New Orleans have totaled 5.3 million mt, up 13% from the first quarter of 2016.
Petcoke exports from Port Arthur, Texas, totaled 714,522 mt in March, up 64% from February and up 13% from the year-ago month. Port Arthur exports have totaled 3.7 million mt on a year-to-date basis, down 15% from the year-ago period.
Long Beach, California, saw the fourth highest volume of US exports at 482,246 mt in March, down 13.4% from February, but up 43% from the year-ago month, and its exports are up 26% on a year-to-date basis.
