January 2, 2024 - The US produced 11.3 million st of coal in the week ended Dec. 23, up 7.5% from the year-ago week, according to US Energy Information Administration data released Dec. 28.

US coal production was 2% higher compared with the week before. From Jan. 1 through Dec. 23, the US produced 571.7 million st, down 2.1% from the 2022 period. Most major US coal producing regions increased output compared with the prior week. The Powder River Basin boosted weekly coal production by the steepest margin.

The Powder River Basin consists of Wyoming and Montana, which produced 5.2 million st in the latest reported week. PRB coal production was 3.2% higher on the week and 6.8% higher on the year. Through 51 weeks, the PRB produced 261.1 million st, down 2.7% from the corresponding 2022 term.

Powder River Basin 9,400 Btu/lb rail coal for prompt-quarter delivery was unchanged on the session Dec. 22 at $14.95/st, according to the Platts Weekly Price Survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Northern Appalachia coal production increased 1.4% on the week and 7.4% on year to 1.7 million st. NAPP coal production through 51 weeks totaled 86.7 million st, down 0.1% from the year-ago period.

NAPP Pittsburgh Seam 13,000 Btu/lb rail coal declined $1.25 from the prior session to $50.75/st, the Dec. 22 Platts Weekly Price Survey showed. The assessment was based on market fundamentals and a broker indication of value at $52.50/st, and considered a sulfur-normalized broker indication of value at $48.99/st.

Central Appalachia produced 1.5 million st in the latest reported week, down 0.4%. Compared with the year-ago week, CAPP coal production was 16.4% higher. From Jan. 1 through Dec. 23, CAPP produced 74.7 million st, up 8.4% from the same period in 2022.

Platts assessed CAPP Thacker/Kenova 12,500 Btu/lb Norfolk Southern rail coal for the second quarter at $75.75/st Dec. 22, unchanged from the previous session. The assessment considered broker indications of value at $74.50/st and $75/st, tested in the market through 11:30 am ET.

Illinois Basin coal production rose 1% on the week to 1.5 million st. Compared with the year-ago week, ILB coal production was 10.5% higher. From Jan. 1 through Dec. 23, the ILB produced 77.6 million st, up 1.9% from the year-ago term.

Illinois Basin 11,800 Btu/lb rail coal for prompt-month delivery fell 25 cents from the prior session to $43/st Dec. 22.