AlwaysFree: Illinois Basin Coal Output Plunged 45.3% In Second Quarter

Statistics from the Mine Safety and Health Administration showed coal output in the Illinois Basin fell to 14 million short tons in the second quarter of 2020. This represents a fall of 45.3% from the same quarter of 2019 and 27.2% from the first quarter of 2020. It is also the lowest production since 2010. The sharp output decline was driven by both the COVID-19 pandemic and a continued drop in demand for coal in the domestic and export market. During the pandemic, producers were forced to idle their mines and lay off or furlough employees.