MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. The suspension of navigation from the US port of Baltimore after the Key Bridge collapse could influence this year's US coal export market, the US Energy Information Administration said in its report.

Baltimore is the second-largest coal export hub in the US, accounting for 28% of the country’s total coal exports in 2023. Annual exports of coal from Baltimore hovered around 20 mln metric tons in three out of the last five years, hitting 28 mln metric tons in 2023.

"Even before the port’s closure, we were expecting much slower growth in total U.S. coal exports in 2024, of just 1%. The interruption in operations in Baltimore may affect the volume of exports this year," the EIA informed.

India and certain European countries receiving coal via Dutch ports were the top recipients of US steam coal over the last five years. Coking coal from Baltimore was supplied to Japan, China, South Korea, Europe, Brazil and Argentina.

The suspension of navigation will also affect US imports of asphalt and urea ammonium nitrate, the EIA added.

The Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on March 26 after the Dali container vessel collided with it.