update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by the federal securities laws. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Overview
Our results for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were impacted by softening of global metallurgical coal markets and domestic thermal coal markets. Despite the relative softness, coal markets, particularly coking coal markets, have remained above previous long-term average levels. Economic growth remains constrained, particularly in Europe and the Americas, due to stubborn inflationary pressure and continuing tighter monetary policies from many nations’ central banks. Slower economic growth negatively impacts end user demand for our products and has a negative impact on coal markets.
Over two years since the February 24, 2022, Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war continues with no indication any resolution is close. Major changes in energy trading patterns appear to be set while hostilities continue. Bans on the import of Russian coal by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other nations continue to drive Russian coal into China, India, Turkey, and other Asian countries. These destinations have generally sourced Russian coals at discounts, sometimes significant discounts, from what similar quality coals from other origins would have required. We expect continued availability of discounted Russian coal into Asian markets. However, we believe most Russian coal is thermal and lower quality metallurgical and that the availability of high quality Russian coking coal is limited.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, China effectively lifted the ban on imports of coal from Australia. While Australian coal is once again flowing into China, it is at much lower volumes than before the ban. Increased Chinese domestic production and increased imports of discounted Russian coal continue to pressure import volumes from Australia. In the three months ended March 31, 2024, Australian coking coal exports appear to be on track to increase compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in availability of Australian coking coal and continued muted demand from China resulted in a rapid decline in Pacific coking coal indices in the three months ended March 31, 2024. Atlantic coking coal indices have declined as well, but not to the same degree, as price differentials between Atlantic and Pacific coking coal markets have compressed. We believe that some high cost coking coal sources are already under economic pressure at current market levels.
On March 26, 2024, a large container vessel lost power and struck one of the main support piers of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, plunging most of the span into the water and effectively blocking shipping access to Baltimore Harbor. One of the primary coking coal loading ports we use for loading export coal, the Curtis Bay Terminal (CBT), is currently blocked until the debris can be removed and the main shipping channel reopened. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has provided an initial estimate that the main channel will be reopened, and normal shipping restored by the end of May 2024. We have been working with our logistics partners to effectively maximize available throughput at our other primary coking coal loading port, Dominion Terminals Associates (DTA), in which we have a 35% ownership interest, and with its rail service provider to move as much of its export coking coal volume as possible via that terminal, while also exploring other export alternatives. The duration of this logistical disruption is beyond our control, and it may negatively impact our export shipment volume of coking coal and may increase logistics costs, such as demurrage, until the main channel reopens. We believe the Port of Baltimore was going to handle approximately nine million tons of coking coal from the industry in 2024, and any prolonged outage could have an impact on the global coking coal supply and demand balance.
With respect to the global coking coal market, we believe that underinvestment in the sector in recent years underlies longer-term market dynamics. Overall, underinvestment in the sector appears likely to persist, as government policies and diminished access to traditional capital markets limits investment in the sector. In the current macroeconomic environment, we expect coking coal prices to remain volatile. Longer term, we believe continued limited global capital investment in new coking coal production capacity, normal reserve depletion, and an eventual return to economic growth will provide support to coking coal markets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, domestic thermal coal consumption was pressured by a generally mild winter heating season in most of the heavily populated areas of the United States, low natural gas prices, increased