The recent coking coal price and demand surge resulted in US coking coal (metallurgical coal) exports to Europe increasing 38 percent compared to the previous closing quarter of April-June 2016.
Exports to Europe were 4,864,448 short tons (4,412,054 mt) per April-June 2016 data and preliminary data for July-September 2016 data is approximately 6,713,000 short tons (6,095,040 mt), reflecting an increase of approximately 38 percent. In comparison, coking coal exports to Europe in the third quarter 2014 were 7,674,958 short tons (6,961,187 mt) and 5,099,453 short tons (4,625,204 mt) in third quarter 2015.
US exports of coking coal worldwide have decreased over the last several years. Data in table below. Industry experts state that the 2016 US export level of coking coal may achieve the total export level of 2015 despite a large drop in the first half of the year as a result of the surge in the latter 6 months.
*Jan-July 2016 total US exports reported at 20,215,363 short tons (18,335,334 mt)
| US metallurgical coal exports | Short tons | Metric tons |
| 2012 | 61,875,978 | 56,121,512 |
| 2013 | 65,678,865 | 59,570,731 |
| 2014 | 60,070,856 | 54,484,266 |
| 2015 | 46,006,856 | 41,728,218 |
| 2016* anticipated | 46,000,000 | 41,722,000 |