The combination of the anti-coal policies of the Obama Administration and the EPA along with the lingering impacts of a worldwide economic downturn and a mild winter continue to pushU.S. coal production lower, while West Virginia production remains flat.
According to NMA, coal production is off nationally by 1.4 percent year-over-year for the 52 weeks ending March 17 – with just 1.07 billion tons produced. In West Virginia, production remains down 1.1 percent from this time last year – with state mines producing 134.1 million tons compared to 136.7 million tons a year ago.
Looking long-term, monthly raw steel production in the U.S.continues to trend upward slightly, up approximately 6.9 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, electricity output in the U.S is off 1.5 percent.