September 20, 2018 - Total U.S. coal production fell for the third quarter in a row, according to an analysis of the most recent federal data.

Coal producers reported output of 180.8 million tons in the second quarter of 2018, down 3.7% from 187.6 million tons in the first quarter and 187.1 million tons in the year-ago quarter, an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis of U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration data shows.

“Deliveries to domestic coal plants continue to fall, and although the rate of coal power plant retirements is slowing, the culling continues,” wrote Matthew Hong, director of power and gas research at Morningstar Inc., in a Sept. 19 note.

Running 12-month coal production totals for the period ending in the second quarter were lower in three of the four largest coal-producing regions in the country. Some of the country’s largest mines, including those owned by Arch Coal Inc., Cloud Peak Energy Inc. and Blackjewel LLC, reported declines in production in that period.