(LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia coal production increased week over week by +3.5%. +2.4% in the state’s NAPP region and +4.9% in the CAPP region of the state. Compared to the same 21 weeks of 2021, year to date statewide coal production is up +4.9%. +5.3% in NAPP region of the state and +4.4% in the state’s CAPP region.
National coal production also increased from the previous week by +2.4%. Coal production from the Appalachian coal basin increased by +3%, +6% in the Interior coal region and +1.1% in the Western coal region. Compared to the same time last year, total U.S. coal production is up 3.3%. +3.5% in the Appalachian region, -2.7% in the Interior coal region and +5.1% in the Western coal region.
EIA reported spot prices for domestic thermal coal were unchanged from the previous week. Compared to the same week in 2021, prices for NAPP thermal coal are up +84.6%, CAPP +110.7%, Illinois Basin +255.8%, Powder River Basin +28.6% and Western Bituminous +22.9%. Average natural gas prices increased week over week by +8.4%. Compared to the week last year, average natural gas prices are up +181.4%.
According to data reported by West Virginia two Class One railroad systems, the number of unit coal trains in the entire Northern and Central Appalachian coal regions holding per day decreased from the previous week by -2%. Coal carloads from the NAPP and CAPP regions decreased week over week by -0.4%. River barge loadings of West Virginia coal increased from the previous week by +4.1%.
Domestic iron and steel production increased slightly week over week by +0.2%. Capacity utilization increased +0.24% from the previous week. Compared to the same 21 weeks of 2021, year to date U.S. iron and steel production is off -1.8%. Cumulative furnace capacity utilization is up +1.9% compared to last year.
U.S. electric generation increased from the previous week by +3.9%. Output in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions increased by +12.2% while generation in the Central Industrial region increased -5.7% week over week. Compared to the same time last year, U.S. electric generation is up +3.9%. Output in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions is up +2.1% and generation in the Central Industrial region is up +3.2%.
U.S. rail traffic increased slightly week over week by +0.3%. Coal carloads increased +2.4%, finished steel and steel raw materials traffic increased +1.1% and auto parts and finished auto carloads increased +5.6%. Compared to the same 21 weeks of 2021, year to date U.S. rail traffic is off -3.6%. Coal carloads are up +5.9%, steelmaking traffic is down -6% and auto parts and finished auto carloads are down -4.1%.