It may be the beginning of the end for coal in this country, but there's plenty of folks who still want it, as in Asia.
Some data points (some numbers rounded):
- U.S. coal exports reached their highest level in two decades due to strong demand in Asia
- coal exports topped 107 million tons of fuel ($16 billion) last year (2011); highest level since 1991; double the export volume from 2006
- "global coal super cycle" according to Peabody Energy
- exports to South Korea: up 80 percent; 10 million tons
- exports to Japan: up 119 percent; 7 million tons (shut down 53 of 54 nuclear reactors)
- exports to India: up 65%; 5 million tons
