According to 2003 preliminary MSHA figures, some 50 mines produced 182.695 million tons (two mines shown in the statistics did not produce coal).

The drop in production is due to the overall reduction in the U.S. coal market with total underground coal down about 2.2% from 2002. It appears that 2003 longwall share of coal production in the U.S. is relatively unchanged at 52% of underground production.

The data includes two mines that were active in 2003 but later closed (Sanborn Creek and Baker).

Top ranked mines were as follows:

Consol’s Enlow Fork mine in Pennsylvania, 9.888 million tons

Consol Energy’s Bailey mine in Pennsylvania, 9.391 million tons

Foidel Creek mine in Colorado, run by Twentymile Coal Company, 8.028 million tons

Canyon Fuel’s Sufco mine, 7.125 million tons

McElroy Coal Co’s McElroy mine, 6.791 million tons

There is much talk about comparing Australian output with US output and while Australian mines may struggle to compete with these big hitters, there’s a wide spread in US output at individual mines, from under 2 million tons to over 6 million tons.

Of the 48 producing mines the spread was as follows:

Over 6 million clean tons – 8 mines

5-6 million ton – 4 mines

4-5 million ton – 7 mines

3-4 million ton – 9 mines

2-3 million ton – 8 mines

Under 2 million ton – 12 mines

For full table of US output Click here