managed to exceed both our internal production budget and achieve record gross margins. Importantly, we ended the quarter with record cash generation holding almost $72 million in cash and equivalents up $50 million from year-end.
Unfortunately, operationally during this quarter, because of rail delays we built far more inventory of coal (over 80,000 tons) than we had planned. Like many other producers in our industry, we could not control our rail logistics and received cars for only roughly 80% of our expected shipments. Had we been able to make timely shipments our first quarter earnings per share would have been $0.38 higher and Adjusted EBITDA would have increased by $23 million to almost $90 million4.
Looking ahead, we anticipate a record second quarter and an increased cadence in all key metrics in second half results. We have already committed sales for 2.4 million tons or almost 70% of our 2022 production at the high end of guidance. Of those sales 2.1 million tons or 90% has already priced or shipped. Using current market pricing for the remaining 300,000 tons, we have now booked roughly $235 million of 2022 net income and $330 million of 2022 Adjusted EBITDA53and over $5.00 of EPS53committed.
Equally positive, we still have almost 30% of our production left to sell into export markets at currently record levels of pricing. We therefore are on track for a record 2022 on both earnings and cash generation. We expect to increase guided production from up to 3.4 million tons this year by over 20% to over 4 million tons in 2023 (up from our previous guidance of 3.7 million tons). At this point, 2023 also looks to be another record year, based on our production guidance and the current forward curve.
For the balance of this year, we have dual aims to increase both the cadence of production, while reducing costs. We anticipate higher earnings by next quarter from improving rail service, greater production and a decrease in overall costs…especially on royalties as a consequence of the Ramaco Coal acquisition. We project production increases mainly at Berwind, as well as lower cash costs there due to the anticipated startup of our Berwind Prep Plant this summer and reduction or elimination of more expensive trucking.
For some greater background on the Ramaco Coal acquisition, I would refer you to our inaugural Shareholder Letter included in the recent 2021 Annual Report. This letter articulates the cost savings, synergies, and transformational opportunities that this acquisition hopefully brings.
First, now owning the Ramaco Coal assets provides an immediate accretive royalty savings which should allow us to recoup the entire purchase cost in roughly 2.5 years, based on current spot pricing. Second, the acquisition also includes unique assets held by Ramaco Carbon, LLC. The Company hopes to profit from the ultimate commercialization of a wide body of intellectual property and licensing rights on technologies Ramaco Carbon has developed over the past eight years working alongside the Department of Energy’s national labs in the field of advanced carbon products and materials. In addition, its permitted reserves in Wyoming hold promise for development as a potential rare earth deposit, which we are pursuing now through enhanced geological assessment.
Another recent event I want to highlight is the increase in the free float of our common stock to roughly now 50% from 34% at year-end 2021. In March, Energy Capital Partners, one of our two original private equity sponsors, distributed to their limited partners virtually all their almost 13% holdings of our common stock. Our other private equity sponsor Yorktown Energy has also made significant stock sales over the past year. Since we became public just over five years ago, we have received frequent investor comment that the amount of our stock publicly available to trade was constrained by the large majority institutional ownership of our private equity sponsors. I am pleased to note since these sales and distributions that our stock has now traded at almost a 1.3 million share average daily volume in the month of April. This confirms the thesis that with more share availability in our float that our stock would trade more widely.
3 Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as Adjusted EBITDA minus purchases of property, plant, and equipment, which can be found on page 10.
4 Using index pricing as of March 31, 2022, for the portion of future export sales.
5 Mine level, before corporate expenses, using index pricing as of May 9, 2022 for the portion of future export sales.