EIA Q4 Coal Report shows decrease in coal production, imports, exports
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Q4 2015 Quarterly Coal Report (Abbreviated) on Tuesday, with observed data regarding coal consumption, imports, exports and prices, while also reporting a decrease across the industry.
The EIA stated that all data for last year is still preliminary, but that across all factors, coal production has continued to decrease from previous years. The report found overall U.S. coal production for Q4 was 12.6 percent lower than Q3 rates, and 18.2 percent lower than 2014 Q4 rates. Production totaled 207.4 million short tons.
The report also observed that the Western Region of the country, responsible for more than half of coal production, also decreased capacity in Q4. The region produced approximately 58.6 percent of overall U.S. Q4 coal production at 121.5 million short tons, showing decreased production rates by 14.2 percent compared to 2014 Q4 rates.
U.S. coal exports also decreased. Coal exports totaled 15.3 million short tons at $68.61 per short ton during Q4, a 9.5 percent decrease from Q3, and a 31.3 percent decrease from 2014 Q4. Coal exports have decreased steadily for almost three years, or 11 consecutive quarters. Export prices for metallurgical coal continues to be higher than that of steam coal prices.
The study also found that coal imports decreased from three million short tons in Q3 to 2.7 million short tons in Q4 at $70.48 per short ton.
When all data has been collected and assessed, the EIA will publish a full report for the quarter.
