Key facts
- The Coal Trader launched a new U.S. Coal Production Tool and Quarterly Report.
- The Q1 2026 report covers national trends, basin breakdowns, and coal quality.
- Total U.S. coal production was 130 million short tons in Q1 2026, flat QoQ and YoY.
- Illinois Basin production rebounded, while Central Appalachia continued to contract.
- Publicly traded producers accounted for approximately 55% of total U.S. coal output.
The Coal Trader has introduced a new U.S. Coal Production Tool and a companion Quarterly Report, aiming to simplify the analysis of coal production data for investors. The tool allows users to examine production by basin, company, market, mine complex, and coal quality. The inaugural Q1 2026 report indicates that total U.S. coal production remained stable at approximately 130 million short tons, showing no change quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year. However, the report details significant regional shifts, including a sharp rebound in Illinois Basin production and a continued decline in Central Appalachia. Metallurgical coal constituted about 14% of national production, with publicly traded companies contributing 55% of the total output.