On March 16, Canada's leading metallurgical coal exporter Teck Resources Limited (Teck) revised its coal sales guidance for the first quarter of 2011 as its sales has continued to be affected by unusually difficult weather conditions.
The adverse weather has caused higher than normal rail delays, an unusual number of locomotive power failures, train length restrictions and low performance at Neptune Terminals and Westshore Terminals due to cold weather.
Teck now expects coal sales in the first quarter to be in the range of 4.6-4.9 million mt. This compares to an average of 5.3 million mt of sales in the first quarter of each of the last six years.
The company said that it is too early to assess any potential impact from the recent earthquake in Japan.