November 9, 2020 - Weekly US coal production rose to 10.36 million st in the week that ended Oct. 31, up 1.8% from a week earlier, but 18.2% below the corresponding year-ago week, according to an Energy Information Administration report released Nov. 5.

The latest week was the third time in the last 10 weeks that all four major basins saw weekly increases.

The total for Week 44 was also the lowest total for the corresponding week in more than 10 years and was 31.6% lower than the five-year average.

Despite the lower production, utility stockpiles remain higher on a days-of-burn basis, as bituminous stocks were at 125 days cover at the end of August, while subbituminous stocks were at 90 days, up 19% and 40.5% year on year, respectively, according to the latest EIA data.

US stockpiles, however, totaled an estimated 116.83 million st, as of Oct. 29, down roughly 1.5% from a year earlier, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics.

For the most recent week, estimated coal production in Wyoming and Montana, which is primarily made up of production from the Powder River Basin, rose to 4.85 million st, up 0.6% from the prior week but 17.6% lower than the year-ago week.

Since Jan. 1, the states have produced 204.7 million st, down 21.7% from the same period in 2019. Annualized production in the two states would total 244.61 million st, down 21.2% from a year ago.

In Central Appalachia, estimated weekly coal production was 1.17 million st, up 2.5% from a week earlier, but down 18.9% from the year-ago week.

Year-to-date production in Central Appalachia dropped 29.4% year on year at 52.96 million st, while on an annualized basis, CAPP production would total 63.34 million st, down 26.5% from a year ago.

Coal production in Northern Appalachia climbed to 1.46 million st, up 4.1% from the prior week but 23.1% below the year-ago week.

Year-to-date NAPP production is 29.3% below a year ago at 62.02 million st, while annualized NAPP production would total 74.23 million st, down 28.2% from last year.

In the Illinois Basin, estimated weekly coal production was at 1.24 million st, up 3.4% from the previous week but down 23.6% from the year-ago week.

Cumulative production is at 56.66 million st, down 34.1% on year, while annualized production in the IB basin would total 67.78 million st, down 32% from 2019 totals.

Through the first 44 weeks of the year, US coal production reached an estimated 446.42 million st, down 25.4% from the same period a year ago, while production on an annualized basis is expected around 533.55 million st, down 24.1% from last year.