EIA reported spot prices for U.S. thermal coal were unchanged from the previous week.  Average natural gas prices increased by +33.22% 

Domestic iron and steel production increased week over week by +2.2% and furnace capacity utilization increased by +2.26%.

U.S. electrical generation increased from the previous week +5.15%, with output from the coal regions increasing by +5.18%.  Output in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions decreased by -1.3% (driven by a -3.58% decrease in the Southeast region).  Generation in the Central Industrial region increased by +6.21%

Total U.S. rail traffic decreased by -3%, its third straight week of decline (traffic is up +4% from the same time in 2020).  Coal traffic declined week over week by -9.28%, finished steel and steel raw material carloads declined by -3.05% from the previous week (but is up 1% from the same time in 2020).  Auto parts and finished auto traffic declined by -7% week over week.

The U.S. Commerce Dept. recently released U.S. coal export data for December 2020.  Exports of metallurgical coal increased from November by +2.76.  Average met coal export pricing increased by +0.80% (+$0.79). For the full year, U.S. overseas metallurgical coal exports were down -24.6% from 2020.  U.S. thermal coal exports declined in December by -14.5%.  Average thermal coal export prices declined by almost -4% from November (-$2.36). Compared to 2019, U.S. thermal coal exports were down by -29% in 2021.