The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE -- An Alaska Railroad train Sept. 26 carried the last load of Healy coal bound for South Korea.

The train carrying about 6,000 tons marked the end of an era for Usibelli Coal Mine, which lost its contract with South Korea-based Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.

Usibelli has used the state-owned railroad two or three times a week for the shipments to Seward and South Korea-bound freighters for 18 years. Over the years, about $250 million of Alaska coal has been shipped.

Usibelli and Hyundai Merchant Marine, the South Korean buyer, were unable to agree on a new contract earlier this year. Cheaper foreign coal, mainly from Indonesia, China and Australia, made the Alaska product too costly for the South Koreans.

"We couldn't meet their price requirements. The Pacific Rim market has gotten lower and lower," said Steve Denton, Usibelli's general manager.

Usibelli laid off 30 of its 110 employees over the summer, Denton said.

Usibelli is the biggest employer in Healy, a town of about 1,000 on the Parks Highway just north of Denali National Park and Preserve.