Economics
Trump May Help U.S. Coal Output, But Jobs Are Another Story
- After hitting bottom, industry sees more production in 2017
- Efficient mining methods have long driven down the workforce
Delegates hold signs reading 'Trump Digs Coal' during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
If Donald Trump wants to bring America’s coal industry back, he sure picked a good year to become president.
Natural gas prices are higher than a year ago, making coal more competitive in the power sector. China’s trimming its own production, boosting prices for metallurgical coal used in steelmaking. And America’s output is up 15 percent from 2016, suggesting this bruised and battered industry may be on the mend.