Estimated weekly coal production slipped slightly in the US: EIA

2-exclusive

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) latest report, the US coal producers produced an estimated 15.2 million short tons (mmst) of coal for the week ending December 16, 2017. The US is the second largest coal producing nation behind China.

EIA’s production estimates are 2.2% lower than last week’s estimate and 0.2% higher than the production estimate in the comparable week in 2016.

Looking at the regional output break-up, the east of the Mississippi River produced totalled an estimated 5.8 mmst (down 1.69% w/w) and west of the Mississippi River produced totalled an estimated 9.4 mmst (down 2.08% w/w).

US’ year-to-date (as of December 16, 2017) coal production totalled an estimated 755.2 mmst, 7.9% higher than the comparable year-to-date coal production in 2016.

January to November Coal Output

Coal production for the first 11 months of 2017 is estimated to have been 719 mmst, 54 mmst (8%) higher than production for the same period in 2016. Annual production is expected to be 791 mmst in 2017, falling to 771 mmst in 2018 because of lower exports and no growth in coal consumption

Coal Exports

US’ coal exports for the first three quarters of 2017 were 69 mmst, 68% (28 mmst) higher than exports for the same period in 2016. This total for the first three quarters of 2017 is already 14% (8 mmst) higher than total annual coal exports in 2016. EIA expects that exports will total 89 mmst in 2017 and 74 mmst in 2018.

US Electricity Generation from Coal

EIA projects the 2017 share of generation from coal will average 30%, about the same as last year. EIA expects the share of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation from natural gas will average about 32% in 2017, down from 34% in 2016 as a result of higher natural gas fuel costs and increased generation from renewable energy sources.