Weekly US coal production totals 10.2 million st, dropping to 10-week low: EIA

Houston — Weekly US coal production was estimated to be over 10.2 million st in the week ended Sept. 29, down 5.3% from the previous week, Energy Information Administration data showed Oct. 1.

Weekly output was at its lowest in 10 weeks and down 25.5% from the year-ago week.

Through the year so far, 39 weeks, US production is about 397 million st, down 23.3% year on year. The five-year average for week 39 is about 15.3 million st, leaving the most recent week at a 32.8% deficit.

On an annualized basis, US coal production is projected to be over 529 million st, down 24.8% from 2019.

Output from all four major basins dropped week on week.

Production from Wyoming and Montana, which is largely made up of Powder River Basin coal, fell 6.4% from the week before to 4.8 million st. Year on year, it declined 25%. Additionally, production from the two states was at a seven-week low.

Through 39 weeks, production from the two states was about 173 million st, and annualized, it is projected to be 231 million st, down 25.7% year on year.

Central Appalachian output totaled 1.2 million st, down 3.8% from the prior week and down 28.3% from the year-ago week.

Over the year so far, CAPP output is estimated at 48 million st. On an annualized basis, it is projected at 64 million st, down 25.5% from last year.

Illinois Basin production reached an 11-week low with estimated production of 1.3 million st. From the previous week, output dropped 3.1%, and it fell 32.1% from the year-ago week.

IB output through 39 weeks was about 52.2 million st, while annualized is it expected to be 69.6 million st, down 30.1% year on year.

In the Northern Appalachian basin, output fell 2.7% from the previous week to an 11-week low of 1.4 million st. Year on year, it was down 22%.

NAPP production through late September was about 57 million st. Annualized, it is expected to be 76 million st, down 26.5% from 2019.