West Virginia coal production declined week over week by -1.1%. Production in the state’s NAPP region increased slightly by +0.2% while production in the CAPP region of the state decreased by -2.8%. Compared to the same 34 weeks of 2021, year to date West Virginia coal production is up +2.6%. +1.6% in the NAPP region of the state and +3.9% in the state’s CAPP region.
National coal production also decreased from the previous week by -1.5%. Coal production in the Appalachian region decreased by -1.4%, -2.2% in the Interior coal region and -1.3% from the Western region. Compared to the same time last year, U.S. coal production is up +2.6%. Coal production in the Appalachian region is off slightly from last year by -0.7%, Interior region production is down -4.8% and production in the Western coal region is up +6.4%.
EIA reported spot prices for domestic thermal coal from the Appalachian and Interior coal basins increased week over week. Central Appalachian prices increased +3.1% (+$5.60), Northern Appalachian coal pricing also increased +3.1% (+$4.30). Interior basin prices increased +1.7% (+$4.30) week over week. Prices for Powder River Basin domestic thermal coal decreased from the previous week by -0.3% (-$0.05) and Western Bituminous coal also decreased by -0.3% (-$0.15). Compared to the same week in 2021, CAPP coal prices are +193% higher, NAPP +157%, Illinois Basin +438%, PRB +36.5% and Western Bituminous, +42%. Average U.S. natural gas prices increased +15% week over week. Compared to the same week in 2021, average natural gas prices are +131% higher.
According to data reported to the federal Surface Transportation Board, the number of unit coal trains holding per day in the entire Northern Appalachian and Central Appalachian coal regions decreased from the previous week by -28% (-2.3 trains). Coal carloads on both of West Virginia’s class one railroad systems increased +8.7% (+731 cars) week over week.
River barge loadings of West Virginia coal decreased -1.5% from the previous week.
Domestic iron and steel production increased week over week by +0.8%, while furnace capacity utilization decreased -0.8%. Compared to the same time 34 weeks of 2021, year to date U.S. steel production is off -3.3% and cumulative furnace capacity utilization is off -0.7%.
U.S. electric generation declined from the previous week by -5.6%. Output in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions decreased by -9.2% and generation in the Central Industrial region declined by -6%. Year to date, U.S. electrical generation is up +3.4%. +2.2% in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions and +2.1% in the Central Industrial region.
Total U.S. rail traffic declined slightly week over week by -0.2%. Coal carloads decreased -1.4%, steel making traffic was up +2% week over week and auto making carloads increased +4%. Year to date, total U.S. rail traffic is off -3% compared to last year. Coal carloads are up +3.4%, steelmaking traffic is off -7% and auto manufacturing carloads are off -0.6%.