In the second quarter of 2026, leading eastern United States railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, reported an increase in their total coal transportation volumes. CSX's coal traffic grew by 5%, while Norfolk Southern saw a 4% rise. This growth was predominantly fueled by a substantial uptick in coal exports, with CSX experiencing a 12% increase and Norfolk Southern a 25% increase in their respective export volumes. Conversely, domestic coal shipments for these railroads declined, with CSX reporting a 2% decrease and Norfolk Southern an 8% drop.
This data highlights a clear trend where the demand for US coal is increasingly shifting towards international markets, while domestic consumption continues to weaken. The robust export performance is the main driver behind the overall growth in coal transportation for these key rail operators.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend suggests a potential increase in demand for rail capacity to US export ports handling bulk commodities. It also indicates sustained or increased activity at these ports for coal loading, which could impact vessel scheduling and port congestion for other bulk or breakbulk cargoes. Forwarders should monitor rail network performance and port throughput at major coal export terminals, particularly along the US East Coast, to anticipate any capacity constraints or operational shifts.
