On March 12, the US Energy InformationAdministration (EIA) released the Short-Term Energy Outlook, which shows thattotal coal production in the United States is expected to be 694.9 millionshort tons (630 million tons) in 2019, down 3.75 from the projected 722 millionshort tons in February. %, a 7.8% decrease from the 753.7 million short tons in2018. In 2019, the expected output reached a new low of 670 million short tonsin 1978. Since then, US coal production has never dropped below 700 million shorttons.

According to the report, coal consumption inthe US power industry is expected to be 563.9 million short tons in 2019 and536.7 million short tons in 2020, both lower than the 636.5 million short tonsin 2018. In 2019, total US coal consumption is estimated at 613.4 million shorttons, and in 2020 it was 585.2 million short tons, both lower than the 688million short tons in 2018.