August 16, 2019 - Coal exports out of the terminals in the Hampton Roads region in Virginia were at a 2.5-year low 2.49 million st in July, down 11.7% from 2.82 million st in June, Virginia Maritime Association data showed Thursday.

The latest month was also down 27.4% from the 3.43 million st exported in the year-ago month and was the lowest total since 2.07 million st was shipped out in December 2016. However, it was down just 0.8% from the five-year average for July.

Exports decreased in July despite stronger global seaborne prices. CIF ARA 6,000 kcal/kg coal, for 15-60 day delivery, averaged $57.99/mt in July, up from a three-year low $48.36/mt in June, but down from the 6.5-year high $100.27/mt averaged in the year-ago month.

Cumulative exports from the terminals have reached 20.6 million st since January, down from 25.3 million st a year earlier, but up from the five-year average of 20.34 million st for the first seven months.

The Hampton Roads region saw 28 vessels set sail in July, down from 43 in June and 45 in the year-ago month. An additional four ships arrived in July but are expected to depart in August.

Individual Terminals All See Yearly Decreases

For the fourth straight month and fifth time this year, all three individual terminals in the region saw year-on-year decreases in July. However, Lamberts Point was the only terminal with a monthly increase, while the other two terminals -- Pier IX and Dominion Terminal Associates -- saw multi-year lows.

Exports out of Lamberts Point, in Norfolk, totaled 1.23 million st in July, up from 1.09 million st in June, but down from 1.37 million st last year. It was the second-highest monthly exports for the Norfolk Southern-owned and operated terminal for the corresponding month in the last five years, only behind July 2018 figures.

For the year, exports through Lamberts Point totaled 8.8 million st, down from 10.61 million st exported in the same period a year ago.

Pier IX, which is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan and served by CSX, exported a 25-month low 478,450 st in July, down from 748,249 st in June and 768,921 st in the year-ago month. July was the lowest exports for a month since 467,196 st were shipped out in June 2017.

Since January 1, exports at Pier IX have reached 4.92 million st, down from 5.58 million st in the first seven months of 2018.

Dominion Terminal Associates, also in Newport News, saw exports fall to a 29-month low 787,720 st in July, down from 983,614 st in June and 1.29 million st in the year-ago month. It was the lowest monthly exports since 664,300 st in February 2017.

Coal exports at DTA -- which is owned by Arch Coal and Contura Energy and served by CSX -- totaled 6.87 million st since January 1, down from 9.1 million st in the same period a year ago.