Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled 2.68 million st in June, down 15.2% from the prior month but up 25.3% from the year-ago month, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Maritime Association.
The region's three terminals primarily export metallurgical coal, exports of which have surged in recent months as buyers sought cheaper coals in light of higher seaborne prices. Monthly exports peaked in March at 3.3 million st, which was the highest total since March 2015.
At the three individual terminals in Hampton Roads in June, Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, exported 1.2 million st, up 2.6% from May and up 36.3% from last year.
For the year, coal exports through the terminal -- which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern -- total 7.47 million st, up 51.7% compared with the year-ago period.
Pier IX, based in Newport News, Virginia, exported 467,196 st in June, down 52.2% from the previous month and down 26.5% compared with the year-ago month.
Year-to-date, coal exports at the terminal, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan, total 4.36 million st, up 123% from last year.
Dominion Terminal Associates, based in Newport News, exported 1 million st in June, down 0.3% from the prior month but up 62.4% from last year. For the year, exports at the terminal -- which is owned by Arch Coal and Contura Energy -- total 5.38 million st, up 34.8% from last year.
