The purchase and export of metallurgical coking coal from Colombia to the United States requires rigorous logistical coordination and compliance with regulations in both countries, as it is a strategic mineral and a dry bulk cargo.
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Logistics of Coking Coal Exports
Colombia is the world’s third-largest exporter of metallurgical coke (after China and Poland). Its logistics differ from those of thermal coal mined along the coast and require a more complex supply chain:
Phase 1: Mining and Processing
Metallurgical coal is primarily mined from underground mines in Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and Norte de Santander.
Phase 2: Coking
Raw coal undergoes an industrial process called “coking.” It is heated in special furnaces (coking batteries) to temperatures exceeding 1000 °C in the absence of oxygen. This removes impurities (gases, moisture, and tar) and leaves a porous, carbon-rich material: coke.
Phase 3: Land Transport
Unlike coal from Cesar, which is transported by train (such as Fenoco’s shipments to Puerto Nuevo or Puerto Drummond), coke from the interior of the country is transported almost exclusively by road. Fleets of tractor-trailers travel between 800 and 1,000 kilometers from the center of the country to port terminals on the Atlantic (Barranquilla and Santa Marta) or the Pacific (Buenaventura). This represents a high logistical cost.
Phase 4: Storage and Port Loading
Upon arrival at public ports, the coke is stored in stockpiles. During loading, it is transported via enclosed conveyor belts directly into the holds of bulk carriers (generally Handysize or Supramax vessels, which carry between 30,000 and 55,000 metric tons). It is essential to handle the coke carefully so that it is not crushed and loses its commercial size, as the steel industry requires granules of a specific size.
Phase 5: Maritime Transit
Once loaded and the Notice of Readiness (N.O.R.) has been issued, the vessel sets sail for international markets to supply the blast furnaces that produce steel around the world.
1. Purchasing Process in Colombia
To purchase metallurgical coke in Colombia safely and legally, we ensure that the producer complies with all of the country’s mining regulations:
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Producer Verification: The supplier must be registered with the RUCOM (Single Registry of Mineral Traders) of the National Mining Agency (ANM). If the supplier is not listed in this registry, the mineral is considered illegal and cannot be exported.
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Commercial Negotiations: Delivery terms (Incoterms) must be established; for bulk cargo, these are typically FOB (Free on Board) at ports such as Buenaventura, Barranquilla, or Santa Marta.
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Technical specifications: The contract must specify the quality of the coke, including reactivity indices (CRI), post-reaction strength (CSR), moisture content, ash content, sulfur content, and particle size distribution (rock size).
Technical Note: Coking coal (or metallurgical coal, used in the steel industry) comes from the central region of the country (Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and Norte de Santander) and is exported mainly through the public ports of Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Buenaventura.
2. Export Procedures and Conditions (Colombia)
The Colombian exporter (who may be the producer or a trading company) must meet the following requirements with the DIAN (National Tax and Customs Directorate) and other entities:
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Registration as an exporter: The exporter must have a RUT (Single Tax Registration Number) authorized for export and be registered with the VUCE (Single Window for Foreign Trade).
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Payment of royalties: This is an essential requirement. Proof of payment of mining royalties corresponding to the volume of coal extracted must be provided to the ANM. Without this proof, the port authority will not authorize shipment.
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Export documents:
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International commercial invoice.
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Packing list.
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Certificate of origin (useful for claiming benefits under the Colombia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement).
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Transportation document (bill of lading—B/L).
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Export declaration (DEX): This is processed through a customs brokerage firm in Colombia before the vessel sets sail.
3. Import Customs Procedures (CBP in the United States)
To import coke into the United States, the importer must deal with the CBP (Customs and Border Protection). It is mandatory to hire a customs broker licensed in the U.S.
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Customs Bond: You must obtain a bond (either single-trip or continuous) that guarantees payment of all duties and taxes to the U.S. government.
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Importer Security Filing (ISF or “10+2”): Your agent must submit this electronic document to CBP at least 24 hours before the cargo is shipped from Colombia. Failure to do so results in severe fines (up to 5,000 U.S. dollars).
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Entry Manifest (CBP Form 3461): This is filed to request clearance of the goods when the vessel arrives at a U.S. port.
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Entry Summary (CBP Form 7501): This must be filed within 10 days after the cargo is cleared for payment of taxes.
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Rates and Tariffs: Although metallurgical coke, under the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, is generally duty-free, you must pay the MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) and, since it arrives by sea, the HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fee), which is equal to 0.125% of the cargo’s value.
4. Unloading Ports for Shipping to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is an inland city with no direct access to deep-sea vessels, so cargo must be unloaded on the East Coast and transported by rail, or brought in via the Gulf of Mexico and shipped upriver. For metallurgical coke, the best logistics options are:
The most efficient route (Northeast/Mid-Atlantic ports)
The standard practice for steel and coal in Pennsylvania is to use East Coast seaports with infrastructure for dry bulk cargo and direct rail connections (Class 1 railroads such as CSX or Norfolk Southern) to Pittsburgh.
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Port of Baltimore (Maryland): This is the primary and most recommended option. Baltimore is the leading U.S. port for handling coal and coke. It features specialized terminals (such as Pier IX or those operated by Kinder Morgan/CSX) and offers the most direct, fastest, and most cost-effective rail connection to Pittsburgh.
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Fairless Hills / Philadelphia (Pennsylvania): There are terminals on the Delaware River (such as those operated by Kinder Morgan in Fairless Hills) that specialize in bulk cargo, minerals, and metals. They offer excellent rail and truck connectivity to western Pennsylvania.
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Ports in the New York/New Jersey area:
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If you need to unload exclusively in the New York/New Jersey area, the terminal in Perth Amboy, New Jersey (operated by companies such as Kinder Morgan) has the capacity to handle dry bulk cargo and offers rail access to the west.
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Logistics note: New York/New Jersey is generally more expensive and more congested for bulk cargo than Baltimore or Philadelphia.
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The River Route (Alternative)
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From the Gulf of Mexico to the Ohio River: The ship unloads in the Lower Mississippi region (e.g., New Orleans), and the coke is transferred to barges. The barges travel up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers directly to terminals in Pittsburgh (such as the Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminals in Ambridge, Pennsylvania). It is a much slower route, but extremely economical for large volumes of bulk cargo.
1. Collection and Export Ports in Colombia
To export to the East Coast of the United States, our best logistical option is the ports on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, as this allows us to avoid the costs and time involved in crossing the Panama Canal (which would be mandatory if we shipped through Buenaventura on the Pacific coast).
Barranquilla (Atlántico): It is the leading port par excellence for the export of metallurgical coke in Colombia. Major producers (such as Carbocoque) concentrate their storage and loading operations here. It has several private and public terminals specializing in coal and coke, equipped with conveyor belts and large storage yards.
Santa Marta (Magdalena): This is a deep-water port with a strong focus on coal. Its main advantage is a direct rail connection (operated by Fenoco) from the mining regions in central Colombia, which can significantly reduce domestic land transportation costs.
Cartagena (Bolívar): Although it is best known for container handling, industrial zones such as Mamonal and Puerto Bahía have terminals equipped to handle solid bulk cargo, including coal derivatives and petroleum coke.
2. Unloading ports on the northeastern and central Atlantic coasts of the United States.
In order for the coke to reach industries in Pennsylvania (such as the Pittsburgh area), it is necessary to find deep-water seaports that are directly connected to Class 1 freight rail networks (such as CSX or Norfolk Southern).
Port of Baltimore: The best option. It is the top port in the U.S. for coal and coke handling. Its terminals (e.g., Pier IX, CSX) offer the most direct and cost-effective rail connection to western Pennsylvania.
Port in Fairless Hills: Located on the banks of the Delaware River (near Philadelphia). It features dry bulk terminals operated by companies such as Kinder Morgan, which specialize in minerals, and has excellent connections to the rest of the state.
Port of Wilmington: Strategically located in the Mid-Atlantic region. Its facilities routinely handle bulk minerals, industrial sand, and coke, and have a direct rail connection.
Port of Perth Amboy / Carteret: If you need to unload exclusively in the New York / New Jersey area, these terminals handle dry bulk cargo and are connected to the CSX rail network. Note: This area is typically more congested and more expensive from an operational standpoint than Baltimore.