August US utility coal stockpiles total 129 million st, nine-month low: EIA

Houston — US utility coal stockpiles totaled over 129 million st in August, down 6.5% from July, Energy Information Administration data showed late Oct. 26.

It was the third consecutive month of dropping stockpiles and the lowest level of inventory in nine months.

Year on year, stockpiles were up 17.1%, but compared with the five-year average of 134 million st for August, they were down 3.5%.

Bituminous stockpiles totaled 50.8 million st, down 5.5% from July and up 1.9% from the year-ago month. Bituminous inventory was also at its lowest in 12 months. The five-year average for August was 57.6 million st, leaving the most recent month at an 11.9% deficit.

Days of burn for utility bituminous inventory was 125 in August, flat month on month. The year-ago days of burn period was 105 days, and the five-year average was 90 days.

Subbituminous stockpiles totaled 74.3 million st in August, reaching a nine-month low. From the month before, inventory was down 7%, and year on year, it increased 28.1%. Compared with a five-year average of 73.1 million st for August, subbituminous utility stockpiles were up 1.7%.

Days of burn for subbituminous coal at US utilities was 104 days, down one day from July and up 30 days from the year-ago month. The five-year average for August was 77 days.

Lignite stockpiles in August were over 4.3 million st, down 0.7% from July and up 93.7% from the year-ago month.