US coal haul seen up 4%

April 17, 1980

US coal production should reach the 800 million-ton level in 1980, a 3.9 percent increase over 1979, the National Coal Association says. Production in states east of the Mississippi River should increase by 7 million tons over 1979 levels, to 561 million tons. Production in the West is expected to rise to 239 million tons, a 23 million-ton increase.

Total consumption of coal for domestic use and for exports should reach 776 million tons this year, up 4.4 percent from 1979.

Domestic consumption will increase to 707 million tons, from 678 million tons in 1979.