U.S. coal production is expected to fall by 23.2% in 2020

 

The US Energy Information Administration released the "Short-term Energy Outlook", showing that in 2020, US coal production is expected to reach 530 million short tons (480 million tons), down 23.2% from 2019's actual output of 690 million short tons. The latest forecasted output is 1.4% higher than the May estimated 523 million short tons. The Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2021, coal production will be approximately 549 million short tons.

In 2020, U.S. coal exports are expected to be 63.6 million short tons, a year-on-year decrease of 31.5%, a slight increase of 0.6% from the expected value in May. US coal exports in 2021 are expected to be 70 million short tons.

The Energy Information Administration predicts that by 2020, coal consumption in the US power industry is expected to be 351 million short tons, a year-on-year decrease of 35%, and a 4.6% decrease from the May forecast. The consumption in 2021 is expected to be 425 million short tons, down 6.5% from the expected value in May.

In 2020, the total coal consumption in the United States is expected to be 394 million short tons, a year-on-year decrease of 33%. It is expected to be approximately 469 million short tons in 2021, a decrease of 5.9% from the expected value in May.

"Short-term energy outlook" shows that in 2020 and 2021, the proportion of coal-fired power generation in the United States is expected to be 17% and 20%, respectively, both lower than the expected values of 19% and 21% in May.

In 2020, American natural gas power generation accounted for 41%, higher than 37% in 2019. The proportion in 2021 is expected to be 36%.

The Energy Information Administration said that in 2020, US natural gas production is expected to be 89.7 billion cubic feet per day, down from 92.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2019. It is estimated to be 85.4 billion cubic feet per day in 2021.

In 2020, natural gas consumption in the US power industry is expected to be 31.5 billion cubic feet per day, an increase of 1.8% from 2019, and is expected to be 27.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2021.