US coal exports totaled 5.95 million mt in November, up 34.8% from the prior month and up 39.2% from the year-ago month, US Census data showed Friday. The month also showed the first significant US exports of bituminous coal to China since February 2014. For overall US coal exports, November was the highest monthly total of the year and the highest monthly total since May 2015. Each of the major categories — metallurgical, bituminous and subbituminous — of US coal showed year-to-date highs in November. The increase was due to the rally in seaborne prices for both thermal and met coal that opened up more export opportunities for US coal. S&P Global Platts’ assessment for thermal coal delivered into Northern Europe (CIF ARA, 15-60 day) averaged $80.73/mt in November, up 1.3% from the prior month as the price continued to rally from a low monthly average of $43.59/mt in […]