Weekly US coal train loadings decline to one-year low at 60 trains/day: STB

US coal train loadings fell to a one-year low at 60 trains/day in the week ended Dec. 29, 2023, US Surface Transportation Board data showed Jan. 5.

The last time coal train loadings dropped to a lower level was in the week ended Dec. 30, 2022, at 57.4 trains/day. Weekly US coal train loadings declined 21.4% on the week and 5.2% on the year in last full week reported for 2023.

All major US coal producing regions reduced weekly loadings, with Northern Appalachia coal train loadings decreasing at the fastest rate.

NAPP coal train loadings fell 41% on the week and 47.4% on the year to 5.5 coal trains/day. The latest reported week marked a 25-week low for NAPP coal train loadings, which was the lowest since the week ended July 7, 2023, when NAPP coal train loadings averaged 2.1 trains/day.

Northern Appalachia Pittsburgh Seam 13,000 Btu/lb rail coal for second quarter delivery rose 35 cents from the previous session to $50.60/st on Jan. 5, according to the Platts Weekly Price Survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The assessment was based on a broker indication of value at $52.25/st and a sulfur-normalized broker indication of value at $48.99/st.

Central Appalachia loaded an average of 10.2 trains/day, down 32.6% on the week and 28.3% on the year. Combined CAPP and NAPP loadings were 15.7 trains/day, down 35.8% on the week and 36.4% lower on the year.

CAPP 12,500 Btu/lb CSX rail coal increased 25 cents on the session to $72.25/st on Jan. 5, the Platts Weekly Price Survey showed. The assessment was based on broker indications of value at $72/st and $72.50/st, tested in the market through 11:30 am ET.

Illinois Basin coal train loadings plummeted 39.3% on the year to 2.9 trains/day in week 52. Compared with the year-ago week, ILB coal train loadings were 46.4% lower.

ILB 11,800 Btu/lb rail coal fell 10 cents on the session to $42.90/st on Jan. 5, the Platts assessment showed. It was the lowest price for ILB 11,800 Btu/lb rail coal since $38.50/st on July 16, 2021.

The Powder River Basin loaded an average of 37.7 trains/day, down 10.5% on the week. Compared with the year-ago week, PRB coal train loadings were 38.6% higher.

PRB 9,400 Btu/lb rail coal for the second quarter was unchanged for the seventh session running Jan. 5 at $14.95/st.

Coal train loadings in non-primary coal producing regions averaged 3.7 trains/day, down 21.4% on the week and 5.2% lower on the year.

Utah is a non-primary coal producing region. Utah 11,500 Btu/lb rail coal was unchanged on the session Jan. 5 at $74.75/st, according to the Platts survey.

Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.