EIA – Quarterly Coal Report, Jan 2024

The Quarterly Coal Report provides comprehensive data on various aspects of coal production, consumption, imports, exports, and stocks in the United States. The report covers the third quarter of 2023 and includes both final data for 2022 and preliminary data for 2023. During the third quarter of 2023, U.S. coal production reached 145.6 million short tons, which was a 2.3% increase compared to the previous quarter but a 5.7% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2022. The western region accounted for the majority of coal production, contributing about 57% of the total output, which was 7.3% lower than the same quarter in 2022. U.S. coal exports in the third quarter of 2023 amounted to 24.9 million short tons, showing a 3.2% increase compared to the second quarter of 2023. The average price of coal exports during this period was $136.34 per short ton. In terms of imports, the United States mainly sourced coal from Colombia (61.9%) and Canada (23%). There were no imports from Australia or Indonesia recorded in the third quarter of 2023. Total coal imports for that period were 1 million short tons, with an average price of $143.34 per short ton. Steam coal exports experienced a slight decrease of 1.9% compared to the second quarter of 2023, reaching 11.3 million short tons. On the other hand, metallurgical coal exports increased by 8% during the same period, totaling 13.6 million short tons. Coal consumption in the United States during the third quarter of 2023 totaled 131.9 million short tons. This figure represented a substantial increase of 44.2% compared to the second quarter of 2023 but was 9.6% lower than the third quarter of 2022. The electric power sector accounted for approximately 93% of the overall coal consumption in the third quarter of 2023. Lastly, coal stocks decreased to 139.7 million short tons by the end of the third quarter of 2023, a 9.5% decrease from the end of the second quarter. Stocks in the electric power sector also dropped to 116.6 million short tons.