Weekly US coal production totaled an estimated 16.3 million st in the week that ended Saturday, the highest level reported so far this year, US Energy Information Administration data showed Thursday.
The weekly estimate was up 2% from the prior week, but down 14.8% from the same week a year ago.
The higher estimates are partly from increased railcar loadings, as railroads are returning more equipment to coal routes as utilities work to manage their inventories. Data from the Surface Transportation Board shows that coal loadings during the week that ended Friday were at the highest level since last December.
For the year, coal production totaled an estimated 453.9 million st, down 24.5% from the year-ago period. Based on year-to-date estimates and revisions, 2016 coal production would total 674 million st on an annualized basis, down 24.7% from last year.
For the week, coal production in Wyoming and Montana, mostly made up of production from the Powder River Basin, totaled an estimated 7.7 million st, the highest weekly estimate this year. The figure was up 2.7% from the prior week, but down 13.3% from the year-ago week.
Year-to-date coal production in the region totals an estimated 204.9 million st, down 25.5% from last year, and would total 305.2 million st on an annualized basis, off 26.9% from last year.
In Central Appalachia, weekly coal output was an estimated 1.6 million st, down 0.9% from the prior week and down 23.9% from the year-ago week.
Year-to-date production in the basin totals an estimated 48.9 million st, down 33.4% from last year, and would total 72.6 million st on an annualized basis, off 29.9% from last year.
Weekly coal production in Northern Appalachia totaled an estimated 2.1 million st, up 0.5% from the previous week but down 14.7% from last year.
Year-to-date production totals an estimated 60.5 million st, down 22.4% from last year, and would total 89.6 million st on annualized basis, off 22.9% from last year.
In the Illinois Basin, weekly coal production totaled an estimated 2.1 million st, up 2% from last week but down 17.6% from the year-ago week. It was the highest weekly estimate so far this year.
Year-to-date production totals an estimated 63.3 million st, down 26.1% from last year, and would total 93.9 million st on an annualized basis, off 24.3% from last year.
