Washington (Platts)--10Sep2009/548 pm EDT/2148 GMT

US coal production totaled about 21.1 million short tons in the week that ended on Saturday, down 6.5% from the same week in 2008 and about 2.3% below the previous week, the Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.

EIA, which bases its estimates on rail car loading data, said production east of the Mississippi River totaled 8.9 million st in the week that ended Saturday, while output west of the Mississippi was 12.2 million st.

Coal production for August totaled 91.6 million st, 8.8% below production in August 2008, the agency added.