LVXXU

Uncertainty in U.S. Coal Exports
U.S. coal exports peaked in 2012; 88 in that record year, East Coast ports alone shipped 68 million tons, which
was only about 65 percent of potential export capacity. 89 Exports have declined since then, dropping in the last
seven quarters ending in Quarter 3 of Calendar Year 2014. 90 Notwithstanding this decrease in exports (and
currently low global coal prices), companies that own and manage export terminals continue with long-range
plans for expansion, focused on the potential for continued demand in Europe, Asia, and South America. 91
Shifts in coal export destinations have produced associated shifts in the locations of ports serving the
international coal trade. As shown in Figure 5-10, exports to Canada have sharply declined since 2008,
which has reduced coal tonnage passing through Great Lakes customs districts (including Duluth, Detroit,
and Cleveland), 92 while rising exports to Europe and the Far East have increased tonnage through Norfolk,
Baltimore, New Orleans, and Seattle. 93
Figure 5-10. U.S. Coal Exports by Destination 94
U.S. Coal Exports (million tons)
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
All Other Countries Spain Belgium Morocco France Japan Germany
Mexico Italy Canada China South Korea Brazil Netherlands United Kingdom
Overall export volumes of U.S. coal have declined from recent record levels, despite growth in coal exports to countries in Europe and Asia.
QER Report: Energy Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure | April 2015 5-23