Coal production in the U.S. was estimated to rise 1.17% from a week ago to 10.68 million short tons (9.69 million tonnes) over the week ending December 13, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on December 18. The figure was up 2.31% from the previous year.

Coal production in Wyoming and Montana combined was estimated to be 4.75 million short tons in the given period, up 0.68% on the week and 7.95% year on year.

Illinois's coal output was estimated to climb 13.56% week on week but fall 9.72% on the year to 686,600 short tons in the same period, while coal production in Appalachia was estimated at 3.17 million short tons, down 0.26% from a week earlier and 0.69% from a year ago.

U.S. coal output totaled 509 million short tons in the year to date, a 4.2% rise from 489 million short tons in the same period last year, the EIA data showed.

U.S. rail coal shipments were 61,733 wagons over the week, ascending 707 from a week ago and 442 from the preceding year. The year-to-date rail coal shipments totaled 2.90 million wagons, up 3% year on year.