>>20060813I know it. One can dream, though. And other countries do import American thermal coals, increasingly so -- though the increase has been slow. Europe imports Colorado coals, for example, transported to Seattle's port via train and then by ship through the Panama Canal onto Europe. Asia imports some Illinois Basin coals already.
There is potential, if Indonesia and Australia can't meet the need fast enough, or if the US builds up a big export infrastructure for thermal coal.
But even in the best case scenario the US would be in third place as a thermal coal exporter to Asia, after Indonesia and Australia.
