US coal production down 32.5% year-to-date

US coal production remains significantly lower than last year with figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicating production down by almost a third. According to the EIA, coal production totaled 245.2 million short t to the week ending 21 May – 32.5% lower that the same period last year.

Appalachian production is down the most in percentage terms. Coal production to the week ending 21 May totaled 59.4 million short t – 36.9% down from the 94.2 million short t recorded over the same period in 2015.

Within Appalachia, Kentucky production has fallen 37.8% year on year to the week ending 21 May, while northern West Virginia production is down 31.8%. Southern West Virginia saw the biggest fall, dropping 41.1% over the period compared to 2015.

Western Region production – which includes the Powder River Basin – saw the biggest tonnage fall with production year-to-date to 21 May. According to the EIA, the Western region produced just under 140 million short t this year compared to 201.3 million short t in 2015 – a fall of 61.4 million short t or 30.5%.

Meanwhile, Interior Region production – which includes the Illinois Basin – was down 32.6% year on year to 45.8 million t.

Railcar loadings were also significantly down, reflecting the lower coal production. According to the EIA, railcar loadings were down 33.4% to the week ending 21 May.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/01062016/us-coal-production-down-32-5-percent-year-to-date-eia-2016-873/