Coal Zoom | U.S. Weekly Coal Production Rises to 10.37 Million Short Tons

U.S. Weekly Coal Production Rises to 10.37 Million Short Tons

October 29, 2026 - U.S. coal production increased to an estimated 10.367 million short tons for the week ended October 24, rising 2.3% from the previous week and 1.4% above the comparable week in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The EIA’s report, released October 29, showed production gains across all three major producing regions. Western output reached 5.539 million short tons, Appalachian production totaled 3.190 million short tons, and Interior production reached 1.639 million short tons.

Wyoming remained the nation’s largest coal-producing state, with estimated weekly output of 4.192 million short tons. West Virginia produced 1.582 million short tons, including 941,000 short tons from its northern region and 641,000 short tons from its southern region.

Alabama continued to lead year-to-date production growth among the reported states, increasing output 28.1% to 15.079 million short tons. Colorado recorded a 9.7% gain, while Northern West Virginia increased production 6.9%.

Weekly and Year-to-Date Coal Production

Production figures are in thousand short tons. Year-to-date changes compare 2026 with the corresponding 2025 period.

State or Region	Week Ended Oct. 24	Previous Week	2026 Year to Date	YTD Change
U.S. Total	10,367	10,138	423,301	−1.9%
Appalachian Region	3,190	3,111	132,158	+1.6%
Interior Region	1,639	1,592	68,054	−0.9%
Western Region	5,539	5,436	223,089	−4.1%
Alabama	429	407	15,079	+28.1%
Alaska	24	24	876	+0.2%
Colorado	198	189	8,528	+9.7%
Illinois	620	616	27,136	−4.6%
Indiana	389	369	15,600	−0.3%
Kentucky — Total	466	447	19,117	+1.4%
? Eastern Kentucky	170	166	6,934	−4.7%
? Western Kentucky	296	281	12,183	+5.2%
Louisiana	6	6	230	+8.6%
Maryland	17	17	800	−5.9%
Mississippi	51	55	2,001	−3.0%
Missouri	3	3	105	+17.0%
Montana	385	378	17,313	−12.6%
New Mexico	168	163	6,192	+2.6%
North Dakota	472	469	19,883	+4.2%
Ohio	26	27	1,170	−15.5%
Pennsylvania — Total	807	792	34,231	+0.2%
? Anthracite	62	59	2,376	−8.9%
? Bituminous	745	733	31,855	+0.9%
Texas	273	262	10,800	+1.5%
Utah	101	111	5,073	−27.7%
Virginia	159	154	7,082	−6.3%
West Virginia — Total	1,582	1,547	66,862	−0.3%
? Northern West Virginia	941	918	38,734	+6.9%
? Southern West Virginia	641	628	28,128	−8.7%
Wyoming	4,192	4,102	165,224	−3.9%

Source: EIA weekly production estimates. State subdivisions are included in their respective state totals; state totals are included in regional and national figures. Totals may differ from the sum of components because of independent rounding.

Despite the latest weekly increase, nationwide year-to-date production remained 1.9% below the comparable 2025 period, totaling 423.301 million short tons against 431.281 million short tons a year earlier.

Appalachian year-to-date output increased 1.6%, while Interior production declined 0.9% and Western production decreased 4.1%. Production over the latest 52-week period totaled 519.114 million short tons, down 0.8% from the comparable previous period.

The report also recorded 59,549 railroad cars loaded during the latest week, compared with 58,242 the previous week and 58,652 a year earlier. These figures represent railcars, rather than tons of coal.

Sources: IndexBox and the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Weekly Coal Production report.