United States, one of the major Coal producers in world, has reached to approximately 18.4 million metric short tons (mmst) of Coal productions. Productions have dropped by 3.4 per cent in comparison to last week and down by 6.5 per cent from comparable weeks in 2012, as reported by the US government agency EIA for the week ended 7 Dec, 2013.
Coal production during the week ended 7 Dec, 2013 from east of the Mississippi River, totaled to about 8 mmst and from the west of the Mississippi River totaled to about 10.3 mmst.
According to the agency, the United States total Coal productions including Coking, Non-coking and Anthracite Coal have reached to about 938.2 mmst which was slipped by 1.9 per cent in comparable year-to-date (YTD) Coal productions in 2012.
One of the major region for Coal production in United States, Appalachian has produced around 5.5 mmst of Coal which is 11.5 per cent more from previous week. West Virginia has produced around 2.2 mmst Coal than last week’s 2 mmst. Mines in Kentucky also produced around 1.7 mmst than previous week’s 1.5 mmst.
The major Anthracite Coal source Pennsylvania has produced 1 mmst Coal including 44 mmst Anthracite.
EIA estimates that US Coal production will see a drop of 0.8 per cent to about 1007.8 mmst and its exports will register a drop of 5.8 per cent to about 118.4 mmst in 2013 compared to previous year. Desipite closing of major Coal based Power plants of 3.8 giga watt in last 10 months, its Coal requirement from Power sector has been increased by 4.8% to 863.3 mmst. Increased demand has been noted owing to the raise in Power plants existing capacity against higher power generation cost from natural gas.
In a report US government agency has projected that US will produce around 1,007.8 mmst Coal in 2013 with inventory of around 37 mmst will fulfill consumption in 2013 and forecasting its production to grow by 2.5 per cent to 1,033 mmst in 2014 over stable inventories and consumption increments.
US Coal Consumption
EIA expects that total Coal consumption in 2013 to reach about 928 mmst, a 4.4 per cent increase over 2012. The hike was primarily a result of increased consumption in the Electric Power sector due to higher natural gas prices. Projected consumption grows more slowly (2.2%) to about 948 mmst in 2014.
U.S. Coal Prices
EIA expects nominal annual average Coal prices to the Electric Power industry to fall for the first time since 2000, from USD 2.40 per mmBtu in 2012 to USD 2.35 per mmBtu in 2013. EIA forecasts average delivered Coal prices of USD 2.39 per mmBtu in 2014.
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