Coal Price Per Ton Today - Live Prices
Access real-time coal price per ton data through our professional API. API2 CIF ARA (Rotterdam) thermal coal prices updated every ~60 seconds with over 600,000 historical data points.
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Real-Time Pricing
API2 CIF ARA (Rotterdam) thermal coal prices updated every ~60 seconds
Global Benchmarks
API2 Rotterdam, Newcastle 6000, Richards Bay, Australian HCC metallurgical coal
API Integration
Simple REST API with comprehensive documentation and code examples
8 Coal Price Endpoints - Complete Coverage
Our API provides the most comprehensive coal price data available: US spot markets updated weekly, international futures updated every 12 minutes, and NYMEX historical archives dating back to 2004.
US Spot Prices (Weekly Updates from EIA)
International Futures (Real-Time - Every 12 Minutes)
NYMEX Historical Archives (2004-2017)
About Coal Markets
Thermal Coal
Thermal coal (steam coal) is used primarily for electricity generation in power plants. API2 CIF ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) is the primary benchmark for European thermal coal imports.
- Energy content typically 5,500-6,500 kcal/kg
- Major exporters: Australia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa
Metallurgical Coal
Metallurgical coal (coking coal) is used in steel production. Australian HCC (Hard Coking Coal) is the premium benchmark for the global steel industry.
- Premium grade with low sulfur and ash content
- Critical for blast furnace steel production
Coal Grades: From Lignite to Anthracite
Coal is classified by carbon content and energy density. Understanding grades is essential for pricing — higher-grade coal commands significant premiums.
Lignite
25-35% carbon
Lowest grade, high moisture. Used in nearby power plants. Not traded internationally due to low energy density.
Sub-Bituminous
35-45% carbon
Includes Powder River Basin coal (~$15/ton). Low sulfur makes it attractive despite lower energy content. Our PRB_COAL_USD endpoint.
Bituminous
45-86% carbon
Most traded grade. Includes thermal coal (power generation) and metallurgical coal (steelmaking). CAPP and Newcastle benchmarks.
Anthracite
86-97% carbon
Highest grade, hardest coal. Used in specialty applications and heating. Limited global supply — primarily Pennsylvania (US) and Vietnam.
Global Coal Markets by Region
North America
US produces ~550M tons/year across 3 main basins. Prices tracked via our CAPP, PRB, and Illinois Basin endpoints.
- Central Appalachian (CAPP): ~$82/ton
- Powder River Basin (PRB): ~$15/ton
- Illinois Basin: ~$52/ton
Europe
API2 CIF ARA (Rotterdam) is the key benchmark. EU coal demand declining due to carbon pricing and renewables growth.
- API2 Rotterdam: the import benchmark
- Richards Bay (S. Africa export)
- Affected by EU ETS carbon price
Asia-Pacific
Newcastle 6000 is the benchmark for Asian thermal coal imports. China and India drive global demand growth.
- Newcastle: $135.35/ton (live)
- Australian HCC: ~$200-300/ton (met coal)
- Indonesia: world's largest exporter
Coal Price Drivers
Bullish Factors
- Cold winter weather increasing heating demand
- High natural gas prices (coal substitution)
- Chinese economic stimulus and steel production
- Supply disruptions (weather, labor, logistics)
Bearish Factors
- Renewable energy expansion reducing coal demand
- Carbon pricing and environmental regulations
- Global economic slowdown affecting steel demand
- Increased domestic production in China
Frequently Asked Questions About Coal Prices
What is the coal price per ton today?
The coal price per ton today is $135.35 (Newcastle benchmark). US coal prices vary by region: Central Appalachian (~$82/short ton), Powder River Basin (~$15/short ton), Illinois Basin (~$52/short ton). Metallurgical/coking coal costs ~$200-300/metric ton.
How much is coal per ton?
Coal costs $135.35 per metric ton (Newcastle thermal coal benchmark), updated via our API. US regional prices: CAPP ~$82/ton, PRB ~$15/ton, Illinois ~$52/ton. Compare with natural gas and other energy commodities on our platform.
How much is coal per ton in the US?
US coal prices per ton vary by region and quality: Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal costs ~$82/short ton, Powder River Basin (PRB) coal is ~$15/short ton, and Illinois Basin coal runs ~$52/short ton. These are EIA spot prices updated weekly via our API.
What is metallurgical coal worth?
Metallurgical (coking) coal is worth approximately $200-300 per metric ton, significantly more than thermal coal. Australian HCC (Hard Coking Coal) is the premium benchmark for steelmaking coal. Track prices on our historical data page.
What coal benchmarks are available?
Our API provides 8 coal endpoints: US spot prices (CAPP_COAL_USD, PRB_COAL_USD, ILLINOIS_COAL_USD), international futures (NEWCASTLE_COAL_USD, COKING_COAL_USD, CME_COAL_USD), and NYMEX historical archives dating back to 2004.
Why do coal prices vary so much?
Coal prices vary based on: (1) Energy content (BTU/kg) — higher energy coal costs more, (2) Sulfur content — low sulfur commands premium, (3) Type — metallurgical coal for steel costs 3-5x more than thermal coal for power, (4) Transportation costs from mine to port or plant.
How do I get real-time coal price data?
Get instant coal price data via our free API with 7-day free trial. Setup takes 30 seconds:
curl https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest?by_code=NEWCASTLE_COAL_USD \ -H 'Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY'
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While you're still scraping websites that break every week, smart developers are building features that matter. Get reliable coal price data in 30 seconds.
# Get your API key instantly after signup # US Spot Coal (Weekly updates) curl https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest?by_code=CAPP_COAL_USD \ -H 'Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY' # International Futures (Every 12 minutes) curl https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest?by_code=NEWCASTLE_COAL_USD \ -H 'Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY' # Get multiple coal types at once curl https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest?by_code=CAPP_COAL_USD,NEWCASTLE_COAL_USD,COKING_COAL_USD \ -H 'Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY' # Historical NYMEX data curl https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/past_year?by_code=NYMEX_APPALACHIAN_USD \ -H 'Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY'