Demand for steam coal in India, Japan and South Korean helped push US coal exports in 2017 to 97 million short tons (MMst), a 61% increase on the 2016 figure of 36.7 MMst. While Asia is the largest importer of the US commodity, exports to Europe doubled from 15.7 MMst in 2016 to 32.8 MMst in 2017. US coal exporters were also helped by disruption to supply from usual providers Australia and Indonesia. In addition, US metallurgical coal exports rose by more than 33% last year to 55.3 MMst.
Demand for steam coal in India, Japan and South Korean helped push US coal exports in 2017 to 97 million short tons (MMst), a 61% increase on the 2016 figure of 36.7 MMst. While Europe is the largest importer of the US commodity, exports to Asia doubled from 15.7 MMst in 2016 to 32.8 MMst in 2017. US coal exporters were also helped by disruption to supply from usual providers Australia and Indonesia. In addition, US metallurgical coal exports rose by more than 33% last year to 55.3 MMst.