US Coal Production Increased Greatly

The US Energy Information Administration(EIA) statistics shows that, as of April 15 the week, the coal production was 14.9 million short tons, up to 40% over the same period last year. Compared with the previous week, an increase of 8.5%.

The output in the east of Mississippi Valley is 6 million short tons, the output in the west is 900 million shorts tons.

Up to now, US coal cumulative output is 230.4 million short tons, up 17% over the same period last year.

In 2016, US coal production is 728.23 million short tons, down 16.3% from 896.94 million short tons in 2015. In 2014, US coal production exceeded 1 billion short tons.

Although the coal price rises up over the past six month, some analysts believe that the natural gas is still a strong competitor in low-cost fuel fossils. In 2016, gas-fired power generation capacity accounted for 42% of the US power generation capacity, generating electricity accounted for 34%, become the primary source of electricity more than coal.

IEA said, since 2005, the natural gas power generation growth is mainly due to the natural gas is relatively competitive with coal costs.