Coal rose to 104 USD/T on October 20, 2025, up 0.53% from the previous day. Over the past month, Coal's price has risen 0.10%, but it is still 28.57% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Coal - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on October of 2025.

Coal prices per ton in the United States can vary depending on factors such as the type of coal, region, market demand, transportation costs, and environmental regulations. This article provides an overview of the various factors that influence coal prices and explains why thermal coal prices can range from approximately $40 to $140 per ton.

Coal prices for electric power generation in the United States were 2.48 U.S. dollars per million British thermal unit in 2024. This is a decrease when compared to the previous year. Average coal prices are forecast to drop in the following years.

The US Coal Index Price is a measure of the price of coal in the United States. It is designed to track the performance of coal prices and provide investors with an indicator of the overall health of the coal market. Factors affecting the index price include supply and demand, regulations, competition from other energy sources, and economic factors. The index price is significant for investors and market participants, as it helps assess the health of the coal market and make informed investment decisions. U

In 2023, the average annual sales price of underground mined coal was ***** U.S. dollars per short ton. At that same time, sales price of surface mined coal was ***** U.S. dollars per short ton. Surface mined coal prices increased compared to the previous year.

Graph and download economic data for Export Price Index (End Use): Metallurgical Grade Coal (IQ11010) from Jan 2025 to Aug 2025 about grades, coal, end use, exports, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The price for one metric ton of Australian thermal coal amounted to an average of ****** U.S. dollars in 2024. This was a notable decrease compared to 2022, when the price amounted to over *** U.S. dollars. Thermal coal, also known as steam coal, is used to generate electricity and its properties include a high moisture and low energy content. It is differentiated from coking coal, or metallurgical coal, which is largely used for steel production. Thermal coal/steam coal prices tend to be lower than coking coal prices, as coking coal requires fewer impurities. Coal consumption: the leading consuming countries Between 2000 and 2023, global coal consumption increased by some ***** exajoules, amounting to roughly *** exajoules as of 2023. Today, China and India are the two leading coal consumers worldwide, at ***** and ***** exajoules, respectively. The two most populous countries on the planet thus accounted for over ********** of total coal consumption in 2023. The U.S. is a leading coal consumer despite the declining U.S. coal mining industry The United States was ranked ***** among the leading coal consuming nations in 2023, however, it has decreased its coal consumption for electricity generation considerably since 2007. This is largely the result of electric utilities switching to cheaper means of energy production such as natural gas and renewables, as well as growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. coal mining industry has also been on the decline in recent years.

Learn about the various factors that influence coal prices in the United States, including supply and demand dynamics, global market conditions, government regulations, environmental concerns, and short-term weather patterns. Understand how these factors interact to shape pricing trends for coal in the country.

Graph and download economic data for Wholesale Price of Bituminous Coal, Mines for United States (M0490CUSM349NNBR) from Jan 1947 to May 1954 about coal, wholesale, mining, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

It is forecast that the average price for hard coking coal in 2029 will be ****** nominal U.S. dollars per metric ton. Meanwhile, the average price for semi-soft coking coal is forecast to be ****** nominal U.S. dollars per metric ton that year.

View yearly updates and historical trends for US Central Appalachian Coal Spot Price Index. Source: Energy Institute. Track economic data with YCharts ana…

United States' electricity producers paid about 2.75 U.S. dollars per million British thermal unit for natural gas in 2024. Meanwhile, coal power plant operators paid an average of 2.48 U.S. dollars. In the last decade, the price of natural gas used for electricity generation has seen a net decrease, followed by a considerable rise in 2022. Coal, on the other hand, has consistently been among the cheapest fuel types used in the power sector. Natural gas prices and the influence of oil demand As it is often produced alongside oil, prices for natural gas are shaped by overall market developments of the oil and gas industry. When an overproduction of oil led to the oil glut between 2015 and 2016, natural gas prices fell notably. The same circumstance could be observed in 2020 when a fall in oil demand brought many benchmarks such as WTI and Brent to historic lows and also resulted in the Henry Hub price falling to a 21-year low. Apart from petroleum, which is an expensive and inefficient means of power production, fossil fuel costs for electricity generation have declined since 2022. Shift away from conventional energy sources Although renewable technologies were once thought to be very expensive, greater investments have quickly rendered their levelized cost of energy generation on par with fossil fuels, especially when deployed on a utility-scale. The aging coal fleet is a prime example of the increasing necessity to switch to carbon neutral technologies. Older coal plants are dealing with increasing maintenance costs as well as environmental regulations forcing the installation of pollution controls.

Coal Price in the United States - 2023. Find the latest marketing data on the IndexBox platform.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Australia Coal Price. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

View monthly updates and historical trends for US Producer Price Index: Coal Mining. from United States. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Track economi…

U.S. Bituminous Coal Prices - Historical chart and current data through 1944.

Learn about the factors impacting coal prices in the United States, including demand changes, renewable energy alternatives, government regulations, and global market dynamics. Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic and government policies have affected coal prices, and understand the variations in pricing based on coal grades and intended use. Find out where to obtain accurate coal price data from reliable market sources.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Coal Mining (PCU212110212110) from Dec 1985 to Aug 2025 about coal, mining, PPI, industry, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Bituminous Coal and Lignite Surface Mining: Raw Bituminous Coal and Lignite from Surface Operations, for Use without Processing (PCU21211121211111) from Dec 2001 to Nov 2022 about coal, operating, processed, mining, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

In August 2022, the coal price per ton stood at $213.6 (FOB, US), dropping by -14.1% against the previous month.