Coal news and updates

Weekly US coal production estimates dip below 16 million st: EIA

Weekly US coal production totaled an estimated 15.5 million st in the week that ended Saturday, down 4.7% from the prior week and down 17.8% from the comparable week a year ago, US Energy Information Administration data showed Thursday.

While EIA does not comment on its production estimates, the weekly production estimate came in below 16 million st for the fourth time in the last five weeks, as coal output continues to fall because of low natural gas prices.

Coal production during the week that ended June 27 in Wyoming and Montana, mostly made up of output from the Powder River Basin, totaled an estimated 6.7 million st during the week, down 17% compared with last year, according to the EIA.

Year-to-date coal production in Wyoming and Montana is estimated to total 195.3 million st, down 8% compared with the same period last year.

In Central Appalachia, weekly coal production totaled an estimated 2 million st, down 25.6% from last year. Year-to-date coal production is estimated to total 58.5 million st, down 15.1% from last year.

Weekly coal production in Northern Appalachia totaled an estimated 2.2 million st, down 15.3% from last year. Year-to-date coal production is estimated to total 64.2 million st, down 5.7% from last year.

In the Illinois Basin, weekly coal production totaled an estimated 2.2 million st, down 14.9% from last year. For the year, Illinois Basin coal production is estimated to total 62.4 million st, down 8% through the same period last year.

The agency, which bases its estimates off rail car loadings, said year-to-date US coal production totals an estimated 451.2 million st, down 8.6% from the comparable period a year ago.

source: http://www.platts.com