In its new weekly coal production release for the week ended December 28, the agency said that US coal production was 17.8 million tons, down 9% than the week prior. However, the total was also 9.3% higher than the same week in 2012.

Using the Mississippi River as a divider for the country, the EIA said that eastern coal production was 6.9Mt while western coalfield mines had 10.8Mt of coal produced.

It is likely, however, that we’ll see a slightly down year overall for coal, according to the initial data from the EIA. Year-to-date tonnage as of December 28 was 987.5Mt, down 2.2% over the comparable year-to-date in 2012.

Totals for the first days of the year, the week ended January 4, will be issued this Thursday, the agency confirmed.