WASHINGTON
,
April 1, 2022
(press release)
–
The Quarterly Coal Report (QCR) provides detailed quarterly data on U.S. coal production, exports, imports, receipts, prices, consumption, quality, stocks, and refined coal. The report also provides data on U.S. coke production, consumption, stocks, imports, and exports. All data for 2020 and previous years are final. All data for 2021 are preliminary.
Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2021
- U.S. coal production during the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled 146.7 million short tons (MMst), which was 1% lower than the previous quarter and 9.4% higher than the fourth quarter of 2020. Production in the Western region, which represented about 58.1% of total U.S. coal production in the fourth quarter of 2021, totaled about 85.3 MMst (11.1% higher than the fourth quarter of 2020).
- U.S. coal exports for the fourth quarter of 2021 (21.7 MMst) increased 4.5% from the third quarter of 2021. The average price of U.S. coal exports during the fourth quarter of 2021 was $160.58 per short ton.
- The United States continued to import coal primarily from Colombia (68.1%), Canada (16%), and Indonesia (9.4%). No imports from Australia were recorded for the fourth quarter of 2021. U.S. coal imports in the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled 1.7 MMst. The average price of U.S. coal imports during the fourth quarter of 2021 was $110.28 per short ton.
- Steam coal exports totaled 9.7 MMst (4.5% higher than the third quarter of 2021). Metallurgical coal exports totaled 11.9 MMst (4.5% higher than the third quarter of 2021).
- U.S. coal consumption totaled 114.1 MMst in the fourth quarter of 2021, which was 32% lower than the 167.9 MMst reported in the third quarter of 2021 and 6.8% lower than the 122.4 MMst reported in the fourth quarter of 2020. The electric power sector accounted for about 90% of the total U.S. coal consumption in the fourth quarter of 2021.
- In the fourth quarter of 2021, coal stocks grew to 124.4 MMst from 108.6 MMst at the end of the third quarter of 2021 (a 14.6% increase). Stocks in the electric power sector increased to 94.7 MMst from 80.4 MMst at the end of the third quarter of 2021.
Industry Intelligence Editor's Note: This press release omits select charts and/or marketing language for editorial clarity. Click here to view the full report.
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