US coal producer Foresight Energy's sales volumes and cash costs both improved in the first 

quarter  as it took advantage of stronger export markets and increased production, company 

executives said Thursday. 

The St. Louis-based company, which operates solely in the Illinois Basin, reported sales volu

mes of 5.3 million st, up 40.7% from the year-ago quarter, as Foresight shipped 24% of its co

al into the export market. By comparison, the producer had shipped 14% of its coal into expor

ts in the year-ago quarter, said Rob Moore, the company's president and CEO. 

"Most  significant was our ability to access export markets due to substantial improvements in 

API2 prices compared with the prior-year quarter," Moore said. 

Foresight, which did not take questions after its prepared remarks, noted production efficienc

ies at both Sugar Camp and Williamson mines, which ranked as the two most productive mine

s in the country in terms of clean tons per hours worked, Moore said.