Market and product

Weekly US coal production totaled an estimated 15.1 million st in the week ended September 10, down 6.2% from the prior week and down 14.5% from the year-ago week, US Energy Information Administration data showed Thursday.

Production historically dips in the week of Labor Day, as estimates last year were off 6.7% during the same period.

Despite the weekly decline, the most recent production estimate was the eighth highest so far this year, as weekly production has averaged just 13.3 million st through the first 37 weeks of the year.

For the year, coal production totals an estimated 485.1 million st, down 24% from the year-ago period. Based on year-to-date estimates and revisions, 2016 coal production on an annualized basis would total 681.5 million st, down 23.9% compared with last year.

For the week, coal production in Wyoming and Montana, which is mostly made up of production from the Powder River Basin, totaled an estimated 7.1 million st, down 5.9% from the prior week and down 13.7% from the year-ago week.

Year-to-date coal production in the region totals an estimated 219.7 million st, down 24.9% from last year, and would total 309.4 million st on an annualized basis, off 25.9% from last year.

In Central Appalachia, weekly coal production totaled an estimated 1.5 million st, off 6.6% from the prior week and down 21.4% from the year-ago week.

Year-to-date production in the basin totals an estimated 52 million st, down 32.8% from last year, and would total 73.1 million st on an annualized basis, off 29.4% from last year.

Weekly coal production in Northern Appalachia totaled an estimated 2 million st, down 5.4% from the previous week and down 13.2% from last year.

Year-to-date production totals an estimated 64.5 million st, down 22% from last year, and would total 90.4 million st on annualized basis, off 22.2% from last year.

In the Illinois Basin, weekly coal production totaled an estimated 2 million st, down 7.1% from the prior week and down 17.3% from the year-ago week.

Year-to-date production totals an estimated 67.3 million st, down 25.7% from last year, and would total 94.6 million st on an annualized basis, off 23.7% from last year. - Platts