(LOOTPRESS) – After two consecutive weeks of decline, West Virginia coal production rebounded from the previous week by +5.1%. +4.1% in the NAPP region of the state and +6.5% in the state’s CAPP region. Compared to the same 32 weeks of 2020, statewide coal production is up +18%. +33.2% in the NAPP region and +1.1% in the CAPP region of the state.
National coal production also increased week over week by +6.1%. +4.2% in the Appalachian basin, +10% in the Interior coal region and +5.9% in the Western coal region. Compared to last year, national coal production is up +11.2%. +14.9% in the Appalachian region, +10.5% in the Interior basin and +9.7% in the Western coal region.
Production from the entire NAPP thermal coal region increased from the previous week by +3.7%. Implied national met production increased week over week by +4.7%. Year to date, compared to the same time in 2020, production from the NAPP thermal region is up +21.9%. Implied national met production is up +5.1%.
Domestic thermal coal prices were unchanged from the previous week. Compared to the same week in 2020 thermal coal prices were higher by +11.6% for CAPP, +29.6% for NAPP, +3% for ILB, +3% for PRB and +1.7% for WBIT. Average natural gas prices increased week over week by +5.5%. Compared to the same week in 2020, EIA reported prices were up +88.9% at the Henry Hub, +138% at the New York regional hub, +106% in the Chicago hub and +120% California average. The average national price of natural gas is +120% higher than the corresponding week of 2020.
Domestic iron and steel production declined for the first time in five weeks, decreasing slightly by -0.2% from the previous week. Capacity utilization decreased for the first time in 10 weeks, dropping slightly by -0.2% week over week.
Total U.S. electric generation decreased week over week by -7.7%, with output declining in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions by -10% and by -8.1% in the Central Industrial region. Generation in the coal regions also decreased week over week by -8.6%. Compared to the same 32 weeks of 2020, total U.S. electric generation is up +2.9%. +2.7% in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions and +2.8% in the Central Industrial region. Coal region generation is up +2.9% compared to the same time in 2020.
Total U.S. rail traffic increased week over week by +1.4%. Coal carloads increased by +6.15%, finished steel and steel raw materials carloads declined by -6% and auto parts and finished auto traffic increased by +7.6% from the previous week. Year to date, compared to the same 32 weeks of 2020, total U.S. rail traffic is up +12%. Coal loadings are up +12.1%, steel making traffic is +28.4% higher and automaking carloads are up +15.2%.