Weekly US coal output totals 12.3 million st, up 48.5% on year: EIA

Weekly US coal production was estimated at 12.3 million st, up 9% from the week before and 48.5% from the corresponding year-ago week, Energy Information Administration data showed May 20.

Weekly output reached its highest level since the fifth week of 2020.

The five-year average for week 19 is about flat with the most recent week at about 12.3 million st. Over 19 weeks, production was about 207 million st, up 3.3% from the year-ago period. On an annualized basis, output is expected to total 566 million st, up 6% from 2020.

All four major US basins rose on the week and on the year, with output from Wyoming and Montana leading the way with 5.7 million st, up 10.9% and 50.6%, respectively.

Over the year so far, production from the two states totaled about 95.3 million st. Annualized, it is projected to be 261 million st, up 6.4% from the previous year.

Northern Appalachian production was about 1.6 million st, up 7.8% from the previous week and up 49.9% from the year-ago week. NAPP output was about 27.8 million st through 19 weeks, and on an annualized basis, it is estimated to be 76.3 million st, up 0.7% year on year.

In Central Appalachia, production rose 5.7% week on week to about 1.3 million st. From the year-ago week, it increased 32.2%. Over 19 weeks, CAPP output was about 22.8 million st. Annualized, it is projected to be 62.4 million st, up 3.5% from the previous year.

Production in the Illinois Basin was estimated at 1.4 million st, up 5% from the week before and up 37.2% year on year. IB output was estimated to be 24.4 million st through the year so far. On an annualized basis, it is projected at 66.8 million st, down 1.4% from 2020.