Weekly Production / Consumption Update | 12.18.2020

West Virginia coal production increased slightly week over week by +0.07%, with production from the NAPP region of the state increasing by +1.5% to offset a -1.4% decrease in production from the CAPP region of W.Va.  National coal production deceased by -2.66% from the previous week.  Production from the entire NAPP thermal region was virtually the same as the previous week, with the increase in production from the NAPP region of W.Va. and Ohio offsetting declines in Pennsylvania thermal production.  Implied national met production decreased by -1.7% week over week.  Year to date, West Virginia coal production is off by -28.9% from the same time last year:  -24.5% in the NAPP region and -28.9% in the CAPP region.

Thermal coal prices were unchanged from the previous week.  Average natural gas prices decreased by -4.3% (-$0.12) week over week. 

U.S. iron and steel production decreased week over week by -0.75%, with furnace capacity utilization declining slightly by -0.7%.  Year to date, U.S. steel production is down by -18% compared to last year and cumulative furnace capacity utilization is off by -15.6%.

National electric generation fell by -0.61% week over week, but output in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions increased by almost +3% week over week.  Generation in the Central Industrial region increased by -1.4%.  Total electric generation is off year to date by -4.8%.

U.S. rail traffic increased slightly week over week by +0.73%, with finished steel and steel raw materials increasing by +4.3%, finished autos and auto parts traffic was up almost +7%.  Coal traffic declined from the previous week by -2.17%.  Year to date, total U.S. rail traffic is down by -7.8% compared to 2019.