Met coal export values, released on Wednesday, showed the first month-on-month increase since the May-June period.
Year-to-date met coal export values, at $6.11 billion, continue to significantly outperform the prior-year period, which recorded a value of $3.09 billion through the end of September 2009.
Non-met coal, labeled "coal and fuels, other" by the BEA, was valued at $216 million in September, down marginally from the unrevised sum of $218 million reported in August. Year-to-date non-met coal sales stood at $1.61 billion, continuing to hold an edge over the $1.58 billion reported in the
same period the prior year.
September imports of "coal and related fuels" were valued by the BEA at $199 million, increasing from the August value of $187 million. Year-to-date imports were nearly in parity with levels in the prior year, standing at $1.67 billion at the end of September, compared with $1.68 billion in the 2009
period.
The BEA reported US economy-wide total September exports at $154.1 billion and imports at $198.1 billion, with a corresponding monthly trade deficit of $44 billion. September's trade deficit narrowed by $2.5 billion, as exports grew $0.5 billion from August, and imports fell $2.0 billion.
