The Annual Coal Distribution Report (ACDR) provides detailed U.S. domestic coal distribution data by coal-origin state, coal-destination state, mode of transportation, and consuming sector. The report also summarizes foreign coal distribution by coal-producing state. All data for 2019 are final, and this report supersedes the four Quarterly Coal Distribution Reports previously issued for 2019.

Highlights for 2019

• Total coal distribution was an estimated 684.8 million short tons (MMst) in 2019. This value is 7.8% lower than the 2018 value.
• Total domestic coal distribution was an estimated 591.1 MMst in 2019. This value is 36 MMst (5.7%) lower than the 2018 value. Foreign distribution was 93.8 MMst, 22.5 MMst (19.3%) lower than the 2018 value.
• Wyoming was the leading coal-origin state, accounting for about 275.2 MMst of shipments delivered to 29 states. Texas was the leading coal-destination state, receiving about 66.8 MMst of domestic coal.
• Railroads moved about 69.0% of the domestic coal, river barges about 12.0%, trucks about 9.6%, and tramways, conveyor belts, and slurry pipelines about 9.4%. Great lakes and tidewater pier transport modes accounted for less than 0.1% of the totalCoal shipments by railroad, river, and truck accounted for an estimated 69.1%, 12.3%, and 9.4% of total coal shipments, respectively. Tramway and conveyor deliveries, which are traditionally associated with minemouth power plants, accounted for about 10.2% shipments.
• Electric utilities and independent power producers received about 91.9% of the total coal shipments. Industrial plants (excluding coke) received about 4.9%, coke plants received about 3.0%, and commercial and institutional plants received about 0.2%.