U.S. coal production fell year on year in June 2026, while exports posted a gain in May, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

June coal output totaled 40.72 million short tons (36.94 million tonnes), down 3.6% from a year earlier and 2.67% lower from the previous month.

In the first half of 2026, the U.S. produced 256 million short tons of coal, a 1.82% decline compared with 260 million short tons in the same period last year.

Coal exports in May reached 9.13 million short tons, up 16.43% year on year and 6.76% higher month on month.

For the January-May period, cumulative exports stood at 41.37 million short tons, a 3.85% increase from 39.84 million short tons a year earlier.

On the consumption side, total U.S. coal use in April 2026 was 25.08 million short tons, down 12.39% from a year earlier and 10.87% lower from the previous month.

The electric power sector consumed 22.57 million short tons in April, down 12.73% year on year and 10.54% lower month on month. Industrial coal consumption totaled 2.49 million short tons, falling 8.73% from a year earlier and 13.21% from the prior month. Commercial coal use was 27,700 short tons, dropping 40.25% year on year and 43.93% month on month.

In the first four months of 2026, total U.S. coal consumption reached 130 million short tons, down 11.55% from the same period in 2025. Electric power sector consumption was 119 million short tons, a decline of 11.96% year on year, while industrial use totaled 10.96 million short tons, down 6.93%. Commercial coal consumption stood at 245,800 short tons, a 9.91% drop from a year earlier.