According to the US Energy Information Administration, increasing coal prices and demand for coal exports, along with continued competition with natural gas, contributed to a decline in overall US coal consumption.
US coal consumption in 2018 the lowest in 39 years: EIA
By Maggie Woodward, David Fritsch, Rosalyn Berry
This article was published by the US Energy Information Administration on Jan. 25, 2019.
EIA estimates that total 2018 coal production in the United States was 755 million short tons (MMst), 20 MMst less than in 2017 and 36 per cent less than in the previous decade. In 2018, coal prices rose in three of the five major coal-producing regions, particularly the Northern and Central Appalachian regions.
Although coal exports from the US increased by about 10 MMst in 2018, volumes were not great enough to offset the decline in domestic coal consumption, resulting in declining coal production.
Of the five major coal-producing basins, two saw increased production in 2018 compared with 2017. In the Central Appalachian and Illinois Basins, production increased 4 per cent (3 MMst) and 2 per cent (2 MMst), respectively.
The Rocky Mountain region experienced the largest decline as a share of production, 12 per cent (6 MMst) lower than in 2017. The Powder River and Northern Appalachian Basins also declined by 3 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively.
EIA estimates that total coal consumption in the United States was 692 MMst in 2018, falling to the lowest level in 39 years. More than 90 per cent of domestic coal consumption is in the power sector, and nearly 15 gigawatts of coal-fired generation capacity were retired in 2018, contributing to the decline in coal consumption.
Although natural gas prices continued to rise in 2018, EIA estimates that the coal share of total power generation declined, reaching a new low of 28 per cent, lower than the natural gas share (35 per cent) for the third consecutive year.
Increasing coal prices and demand for coal exports, along with continued competition with natural gas, also contributed to a decline in overall coal consumption.
Coal exports rose for the second consecutive year in 2018, reaching 116 MMst, or 15 per cent of total United States coal production. International demand for coal from the US was driven by Asian and European countries.
The largest importers of US coal in Asia were India, Japan, and South Korea. In Europe, the Netherlands was the largest destination with Turkey, Morocco, Croatia, and the United Kingdom showing growth during 2017.
The average price of US steam coal used in electricity generation increased in 2018 in most regions.
The price of Northern and Central Appalachian coal, driven by strong international demand for both metallurgical and steam coal, increased by 41 per cent and 39 per cent in 2018, respectively. Illinois Basin coal prices also rose, climbing 19 per cent, while Power River Basin and Rocky Mountain prices fell by 2 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.
The bituminous coals produced in Appalachian and Illinois Basins have higher heat content than the sub-bituminous coal produced in the West. Appalachia coals are valued for their coking properties in producing iron and steel both domestically and abroad.
The Appalachian regions also benefit from closer proximity to existing coal-exporting infrastructure at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.
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