January 4, 2021 - Weekly US coal production was estimated at almost 8.8 million st in the week ended Dec. 26, down 20.3% from the previous week, Energy Information Administration data showed Dec. 31.

From the year-ago week, production dropped 14.7%, the strongest year-on-year decline in six weeks.

The five-year average for week 52 is more than 11.7 million st, leaving the most recent week at a 25.5% deficit. The average weekly output in 2020 is 10.3 million st, down from 13.5 million st in 2019.

Annual production is estimated to be 537 million st, down 23.6% year on year.

Double-digit declines were seen both week on week and year on year across all four major US basins.

Output from Wyoming and Montana was almost 4.1 million st, down 21.4% from the previous week and down 14.5% from the year-ago week. Production from the two states was at a 26-week low.

Through 52 weeks, production from Wyoming and Montana was over 247 million st, down 20.3% from 2019.

Central Appalachian production was estimated at about 964,000 st, hitting a 25-week low. Production dropped 20.1% from the week before and fell 17.5% from the year-ago week.

CAPP output over the year was about 62.3 million st, down 28.9% year on year.

Output in Northern Appalachia was also at a 26-week low with about 1.2 million st, down 18.7% week on week and down 20.2% from the year-ago week.

NAPP production through 2020 was estimated to be 74.3 million st, down 28.2% from last year.

Illinois Basin production had the largest low of 31 weeks. Output from the basin was over 1 million st, down 20.1% from the previous week and down 20.2% year on year.

Production from the IB was about 67.3 million st through 52 weeks, down 32.4% from 2019.