News release: “Domestic coal consumption during the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased by 18.8% from the third quarter of 2011 to 227.1 million short tons, which was the lowest level since the second quarter of 1995. This decrease was primarily the result of lower consumption in the electric power sector. However, declines in domestic coal use were partially offset by rising coal exports to Asia and Europe (see chart). Electric power sector consumption decreased to 208.6 million short tons as a result of mild weather along with high stockpile levels and strong competition from natural gas in November and December 2011. Total coal exports surpassed the five-year (2006-2010) fourth-quarter range, increasing by 32.6% from fourth quarter 2010 and 6.6% from the third quarter of 2011, to 27.7 million short tons. U.S. coal exports were up in 2011 as a result of supply disruptions in Australia, Indonesia, and Colombia in late 2010 and early 2011 and strong demand growth in Asia.”