Norfolk Southern transported more coal for export last year than it did for domestic power production, according to the railroad’s fourth quarter earnings report.
The Atlanta-based railroad hauled shy of 30 million tons of domestic coal in 2024 and 33 million tons of export coal. The railroad’s coal domestic and export tons were about the same in 2023.
Historically domestic coal has dominated for Norfolk Southern and its principal rival, CSX, but the years-long decline in coal as a fuel for U.S. electricity has flipped the order.
In another sign of the shift, Norfolk Southern’s domestic coal haul fell 16% in the fourth quarter, while export tons increased 13%.
Norfolk Southern transports central Appalachian coal to the port of Norfolk, Virginia, and northern Appalachian coal to the port of Baltimore.
Norfolk Southern operates the second-most miles of track in West Virginia behind CSX.
CSX last week reported its fourth quarter results. The railroad’s presentation showed that it, too, hauled more export coal than domestic coal in 2024.
On Tuesday, Norfolk Southern reached a $22 million settlement with East Palestine, Ohio, over a 2023 derailment and fire that displaced residents and contaminated air, water and soil in the area with toxic chemicals.