(LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia coal production increased week over week by +2.4%. +3.4% in the state’s NAPP region and +0.6% in the CAPP region of the state. Year to date, total statewide coal production is up +19.3% from the same 37 weeks of 2020. +30.8% in the NAPP region and +6.2% from the state’s CAPP region.
Estimated railroad shipments of West Virginia coal were down from slightly from the previous week by -0.3%. Car loads in the state’s NAPP region increased from last week by +1.6% and decreased by -1.2% in the CAPP region of the state. River shipments of West Virginia coal increased slightly week over week by +0.6%. River loads in the state’s NAPP region increased by +1.6% while river loadings in the CAPP region of the state declined by -5.8% from the previous week.
National coal production also increased week over week by +1.9%. Production increased +3.3% in the Appalachian region while Interior basin production decreased slightly week over week by -0.2%. Production from the Western coal region increased week over week by +2%. Compared to the same time last year, total U.S. coal production is 8.3% higher than the same 37 weeks of 2020: +16.2% in the Appalachian region, +6.9% in the Interior basin and +5.2% in the Western region.
EIA reported spot prices for thermal coal were unchanged from the previous week.Compared to the same week in 2020, NAPP pricing is +38.6% higher, CAPP prices are up +10.5%, ILB prices are +5.4% higher, PRB pricing is +14.1% higher and WBIT prices are up +3.9%. Natural Gas prices increased across the board from last week, with the average price increasing by +29% week over week. Compared to the same week in 2020, average U.S. natural gas prices are +164.9% higher.
Domestic iron and steel production increased slightly from the previous week by +0.8%. Furnace capacity utilization also increased week over week by +0.9%. Compared to the same 37 weeks of 2021, total U.S. iron and steel production is up +20.1%. Cumulative capacity utilization is +20.9% higher than the same time last year.
Total U.S. rail traffic declined week over week by -5.2%. Coal carloadings increased by +4.4% from last week. Finished steel and steel raw materials traffic declined by 1.6%, auto parts and finished auto carloads decreased by -18.5% week over week. Year to date, U.S. rail traffic is +10% higher than the same 37 weeks last year. Coal carloads are up +11.7%, steel making traffic is +27.9% higher and auto parts carloads are up +8.6%.