Founded in 1991, Emerald’s core business is the international trade of coal products including thermal and metallurgical coals. Exports amount to about 85% of the firm’s business, with the remainder being domestically traded and consumed products. Emerald typically ships about 3.5 million tons of coal per year, primarily homogenous blends loaded from the Lower Mississippi River in New Orleans. Metallurgical coal exports amount to about 400,000 tons per year.

The firm obtains supplies from various producers and transports the coal to the U.S. Gulf via barge. Emerald is the largest shipper of US coal through the lower Mississippi river and is located in Florence, Kentucky, just 10 miles from Cincinnati.

History

Emerald International was founded in 1991 by Aidan Bowles and Jack Wells, and was initially incorporated in Ohio. The company was reincorporated in Kentucky in January 1992. Jack Wells spent 4 years as a financial controller of a coal trader, while Aidan Bowles was previously a practicing New York attorney, prior to becoming a vice president in a US coal trading company.

Other members of the team include Steve Weber, who joined the company in 1995, from Costain Coal Sales. Steve is Vice President of coal procurement and sales. Jill Karst manages and coordinates all office procedures and transportation logistics. Jill has been with the company since 1993, and is assisted by Tonya Mahorney, who came on board in 1995.

In January 2006, Chris Hastings joined the Emerald Team. Chris assists in the coal trading activities of the company. Chris was previously with Progress Fuels. In August 2008, Mike Goff joined Emerald and is responsible for the company’s domestic/industrial rail and utility sales.

In 2005, Jack Wells purchased 100% of the shares of Emerald and is now its sole owner. Aidan Bowles retired in 2009.

Emerald has been involved in the coal trading sector since its incorporation.