Weekly US thermal coal production was estimated to be more than 11.5 million st in the week ended March 13, down 2.4% from the previous week and up 15.2% from the year-ago week, Energy Information Administration data said March 18. Output in the 11 weeks of 2021 is estimated at about 118 million st, down 8.5% year on year. The five-year average for week 11 is 13.1 million st, leaving the most recent week at a 12.1% deficit. Annualized production is projected to be 557 million st, up 3.7% from 2020. Illinois Basin production reached a 2021 high with 1.4 million st. From the week before, output rose 0.2%, and year on year, it was up 6.3%. IB output totaled about 13.9 million st over 11 weeks. On an annualized basis, it is estimated at […]