January 4, 2023 - Total shipments of West Virginia metallurgical coal to domestic steelmakers decreased from the 2nd quarter of 2022 by -5.7% (-159,060 tons).   Deliveries of domestic met coal from the state’s Northern Appalachian region increased +6.8% while domestic met coal shipments from the Central Appalachian region of the state decreased -5.9% from the 2nd quarter.  Compared to the same nine months of 2021, total West Virginia metallurgical coal shipments to domestic coke plants and steelmaking facilities are up +0.54%.  Northern Appalachian met coal deliveries are up +20.7% and shipments of met coal from the state’s Central Appalachian region are up +0.2%.   

In the 3rd quarter of 2022, West Virginia accounted for 65% of all met coal shipments to domestic steelmakers, down from 69% in the 2nd quarter.  For the nine of months of 2022, 68% of all met coal shipments to U.S. steelmakers originated in West Virginia.  

Total U.S. metallurgical coal shipments increased slightly from the 2nd quarter by +0.04% (about 2,000 tons).   Through the 3rd quarter of 2022, total metallurgical shipments to domestic coke plants and steelmaking facilities are down -4% from the same time in 2021. 

U.S. coke production decreased slightly in the 3rd quarter by -0.4%.  Compared to the same nine months of 2021, total U.S. coke production is off -9.7%.  (U.S. raw steel production is off -4.1% from the same nine months of 2021 and furnace capacity utilization was down -1.7%). 

The average price of domestic metallurgical coal decreased in the 3rd quarter of 2022 by -1.8% (-$3.67 / ton).  Through the 3rd quarter of 2022, the average price of domestic metallurgical coal is up +62.4% (+$74.40 / ton) compared to the same time in 2021. 

Coal stockpiles at U.S. coke plants increased from the 2nd quarter of 2022 by +1.6%.  Compared to the same nine months of 2021, average coal stockpile levels at domestic coke plants are off -6.4% compared to the same time in 2021. 

U.S. merchant coke sales increased substantially from the 2nd quarter of 2022 by +90% (+1.5m tons).  Through the 3rd quarter of 2022, merchant coke sales are up +27.4% compared to the same nine months of 2021. 

Domestic merchant coke pricing decreased in the 3rd quarter -46.2% (-$191.92 / ton).  Compared to 2021, the average merchant coke price for the same nine months of 2022 is up +11.4%. 

U.S. imports of finished coke decreased in the 3rd quarter of 2022 by -44.4% (-10,548 tons).  Compared to 2021, total coke imports are down -32.2% (-21,602 tons) in the same nine months of 2022. 

The average reported price of imported finished coke increased from the 2nd quarter by +6.7% (+$33.97 / ton).  Through the first nine months of 2022, the average price of U.S. coke imports is up +94% (+$256.78 / ton) compared to the same time in 2021. 

U.S. exports of finished coke decreased in the 3rd quarter of 2022 by -29.9% (-229,361 tons).  Compared to the same nine months of 2021, total U.S. coke exports are up +29% (+411,092 tons). 

The average reported price of U.S. coke exports increased from the 2nd quarter of 2022 by +45.8% (+$129.82 / ton).  Through the first nine months of 2022, the average price of U.S. coke exports is up +22% (+$58.20 / ton).