U.S. estimated coal output continued to decline in the week ending September 12, according to data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on September 17.

The coal production estimates totaled 9.82 million short tons (8.90 million tonnes), down 1.19% from the previous week and 9.73% from the same period a year earlier.

Wyoming and Montana produced an estimated 4.4 million short tons during the week, down 4.21% week on week and 4.32% from a year earlier.

Illinois output was estimated at 590,494 short tons, up 2.8% from the prior week but down 17.79% from the same period last year. Appalachian output came in at 3.00 million short tons, up 0.64% week on week and down 10.91% year on year.

Since the start of 2026, estimated U.S. coal output has totaled about 363 million short tons, down 2.1% from 371 million short tons in the same period a year earlier.

U.S. rail coal shipments stood at 58,408 carloads during the week, up 371 carloads from the previous week but down 2,949 carloads from a year earlier. Year-to-date rail coal shipments totaled 2.09 million carloads, down 1.9% year on year.