U.S. estimated coal production continued its upward trend in the week ended August 29, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on September 3.

Estimated output totaled 10.95 million short tons (9.94 million tonnes), up 3.37% from the previous week but down 1.02% year on year.

Wyoming and Montana produced an estimated 5.07 million short tons during the week, up 3.4% week on week and 7.5% higher than a year earlier.

Illinois output was estimated at 626,758 short tons, up 2.34% from a week earlier but down 8.5% year on year. The Appalachian region produced an estimated 3.27 million short tons, up 3.19% week on week and 4.92% lower than the same period last year.

Cumulative U.S. estimated coal output since the start of 2026 stood at approximately 340 million short tons, down 2.4% from 350 million short tons in the year-earlier period.

Rail coal loadings totaled 63,992 cars during the week, up 2,088 cars from the prior week but down 1,413 cars year on year. Year-to-date rail coal shipments reached 1.97 million cars, down 1.7% from a year earlier.