By Jeffrey McDonald

November 6, 2017 - Coal exports from terminals in Virginia's Hampton Roads region totaled 3.08 million st in October, down 1% from the prior month but up 83.1% from the year-ago month, according to data released Thursday by the Virginia Maritime Association.

It was the first drop in month-over-month exports since June, when exports fell 15.2% from May. The region's three terminals primarily ship metallurgical coal.

The drop in exports corresponded with an 8.8% month-over-month drop in low-vol met coal FOB FOB USEC prices in October, according to S&P Global Platts data.

Through October 31, low-vol metallurgical coal FOB USEC has averaged $172.22/mt this year, compared with $105.22/mt in the year-ago period.

For the year to date, exports through the region's three terminals totaled 29.1 million st, up 64.9% from last year.

Of the three individual terminals in Hampton Roads, Lambert's Point, also known as Pier 6, exported 1.32 million st in October, up 8% from September and up 84% from last year.

For the year thus far, coal exports through the terminal -- which is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern -- totaled 12.28 million st, up 57.5% compared with the year-ago period.

Pier IX, based in Newport News, Virginia, exported 513,477 st in October, down 31.7% compared with the previous month but up 6.5% compared with the year-ago month.

Year-to-date, coal exports at the terminal, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan, totaled 6.75 million st, up 89.6% from last year.

Dominion Terminal Associates, based in Newport News, exported 1.25 million st in October, up 9.7% from the prior month and up 158% from last year.

For the year so far, exports at the terminal -- which is owned by Arch Coal and Contura Energy -- totaled 10.04 million st, up 60.2% from last year.