A fairly wide range of numbers have been offered in various forecasts regarding potential U.S. exports of coking coal this year. The ambitious estimates have the U.S. shipping better than 50 million tons overseas, while more cautious viewpoints anticipate movements in the low-40 million-ton range. XCoal Energy & Resources has sort of split the difference in its assessment of export possibilities. "Our forecast is at least 2.5 million tons of Pitt 8 seam coal will go to China (as met coal)," XCoal President and Chief Commercial Officer Jack Porco said at the American Coal Council Spring Coal Forum. "So if you take what we think met coal production will be and add the crossover tons, I come up with 77 million tons. Is that how many tons of met coal that will be produced and sold?
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