Weekly US coal production climbs to eight-week high: EIA

Houston — Weekly US coal production rose to an estimated eight-week high of 8.65 million st in the week that ended June 6, up 5.5% from a week earlier, but 30.9% lower than the year-ago week, according to a June 11 US Energy Information Administration report.

It was only the second time in the last 10 weeks that all four major coal-producing regions saw weekly increases.

However, the total for Week 23 was the lowest total for the corresponding week in the last 10 years, and was 38.4% lower than the five-year average.

Despite the lower production, utility stockpiles remain higher on an aggregate basis, totaling an estimated 156.67 million st as of June 4, up roughly 35.9% from a year earlier, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics.

For the latest week, the estimated coal production in Wyoming and Montana -- which is primarily made up of production from the Powder River Basin -- totaled a 10-week high of 3.84 million st, up 5.9% from the prior week but 27.4% lower than the year-ago week. It was the highest level since 4.93 million st were produced in the week ended March 28.

Since January 1, the states have produced 102.69 million st, down 21.3% from the same period in 2019. Annualized production in the two states would total 223.75 million st, down 27.9% from a year ago.

In Central Appalachia, the estimated weekly coal production rose to a seven-week high 1.06 million st, up 2.2% from a week earlier but 34.8% lower than the year-ago week.

Year-to-date production in Central Appalachia was down 29.1% year on year at 28.37 million st, while on an annualized basis, CAPP production would total 65.47 million st, down 24.1% from a year ago.

Coal production in Northern Appalachia climbed to a six-week high 1.33 million st, up 10.2% from the prior week but 32.9% below the year-ago week.

Year-to-date production was 29.4% lower than a year ago at 33.61 million st, while annualized NAPP production would total 76.48 million st, down 26.1% from last year.

In the Illinois Basin, the estimated weekly coal production was at 1.18 million st, up 4.9% from the previous week but down 34.9% from the year-ago week. Cumulative production so far this year was at 31.27 million st, down 33.9% on the year, while annualized production in the IB basin would total 71.52 million st, down 28.2% from the 2019 total.

Through the first 23 weeks of the year, US coal production totaled an estimated 231.29 million st, down 26.1% year on year, while production on an annualized basis is expected around 534.45 million st, down 24% from last year.