Peabody maintained its prime position with output (including sales) of 201.8 million short tons, approximately 18.9% of America’s coal production.

 

The second largest producer was Kennecott Energy with 119.1 million tons, followed by Arch Coal with 109 million tons.

 

Total coal production decreased to 1,069.5 million short tons in 2003, down 2.3% from 2002 levels.

 

NMA attributed the decrease to output falls in many eastern states including West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Modest increases were seen in Virginia, Ohio, Alabama and Indiana.

 

In the west, production increases from mines in Wyoming, Colorado and Texas were not enough to counter the decreases in other western states.

 

NMA said the primary factor contributing to lower production last year was falls in the Central Appalachian region resulting from lower production from companies still working their way out of financial trouble, a few mine closures, and mining re-permitting backlogs and permitting delays.

 

Operational issues including geologic, ventilation and mine fire problems, along with reserve depletion for some operations were cited as contributing factors to the drop in production from the region.

 

In the west, what otherwise might well have been a year of production growth was constrained by weather and transportation factors.

 

According to the 2003 survey, the top four underground mines in terms of production were Consol Energy Enlow Fork and Bailey mines in Pennsylvania, with 9.9 million and 9.4 million tons respectively, followed by RAG American Coal’s Twentymile Mine in Colorado (8.1 million tons), and Arch’s SUFCO mine in Utah (7.1 million tons).

 

Top 20 US Coal Producers - 2003
Peabody Energy	201.8
Kennecott Energy	119.1
Arch Coal	109
RAG American Coal Holding	72.2
Consol Energy	60.4
Triton Coal	41.5
Massey Energy	41
North American Coal	35.5
Horizon Natural Resources	31.6
Westmoreland Coal	27.7
TXU Mining	24.4
Murray Energy	19.3
Alliance Resource Partners	19.2
Alpha Natural Resources	17.5
BHP Billiton	14.8
Kiewit Mining	13.1
Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining	12.1
Interwest Mining	9.4
James River Coal	9.3
TECO Coal	9.2
Figures courtesy of 2003 National Mining Association survey of major producers

 

Top 10 Major U.S. Underground Coal Mines - 2003
Mine	Operating Company	Production (million short tons)
Enlow Fork	Consol Energy	9.9
Bailey	Consol Energy	9.4
Twentymile	Twentymile Coal Company	8.1
SUFCO	Canyon Fuel Company	7.1
Emerald	RAG Emerald Resources	6.6
West Elk	Arch Coal	6.5
McElroy	Consol Energy	6.3
Cumberland	RAG Cumberland Resources	6.2
Galatia	American Coal Company	6
San Juan	BHP Billiton	5.9