Monthly average, September 2026
Thermal coal with 6,000 kcal/kg, free on board at Richards Bay, South Africa.
| Unit | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| metric ton | 98.20 |
| Year | Average | High | Low | Change | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 94.84 | 98.20 | 90.60 | −0.0% | 96.19 |
| 2025 | 94.89 | 103.30 | 90.90 | −10.3% | 99.31 |
| 2024 | 105.77 | 106.80 | 104.80 | −11.2% | 113.62 |
| 2023 | 119.11 | 172.00 | 96.80 | −50.5% | 131.71 |
| 2022 | 240.56 | 302.00 | 168.50 | +100.7% | 276.96 |
| 2021 | 119.85 | 199.70 | 82.80 | +82.5% | 149.03 |
| 2020 | 65.66 | 85.20 | 56.60 | −8.7% | 85.48 |
| 2019 | 71.93 | 91.30 | 60.40 | −26.3% | 94.80 |
| 2018 | 97.64 | 106.00 | 89.50 | +14.7% | 131.02 |
| 2017 | 85.15 | 95.50 | 74.40 | +33.2% | 117.05 |
| 2016 | 63.95 | 89.20 | 49.10 | +12.8% | 89.78 |
| 2015 | 56.71 | 63.50 | 48.80 | −21.6% | 80.62 |
| 2014 | 72.34 | 82.90 | 65.70 | −9.8% | 102.96 |
| 2013 | 80.23 | 86.10 | 72.60 | −13.7% | 116.03 |
| 2012 | 92.91 | 106.30 | 82.80 | −20.1% | 136.35 |
| 2011 | 116.30 | 124.00 | 104.20 | +26.9% | 174.21 |
| 2010 | 91.62 | 115.20 | 83.00 | +41.6% | 141.57 |
| 2009 | 64.69 | 76.40 | 58.00 | −46.4% | 101.60 |
| 2008 | 120.62 | 167.80 | 77.30 | +92.5% | 188.76 |
| 2007 | 62.67 | 94.30 | 50.10 | +23.6% | 101.84 |
| 2006 | 50.71 | 54.90 | 44.70 | +9.8% | 84.75 |
| 2005 | 46.20 | 51.40 | 38.10 | −15.6% | 79.71 |
| 2004 | 54.71 | 68.50 | 41.30 | +80.9% | 97.59 |
| 2003 | 30.25 | 39.20 | 23.70 | +16.2% | 55.41 |
| 2002 | 26.04 | 29.70 | 21.30 | −23.2% | 48.78 |
| 2001 | 33.89 | 35.50 | 30.50 | +27.5% | 64.49 |
| 2000 | 26.58 | 34.70 | 22.80 | +9.4% | 52.00 |
| 1999 | 24.29 | 26.50 | 22.50 | −9.5% | 49.14 |
| 1998 | 26.84 | 27.60 | 26.10 | −14.4% | 55.48 |
| 1997 | 31.36 | 34.60 | 27.70 | −6.5% | 65.82 |
| 1996 | 33.53 | 35.00 | 32.00 | −4.9% | 72.02 |
| 1995 | 35.24 | 36.20 | 34.00 | +23.4% | 77.92 |
| 1994 | 28.57 | 32.00 | 27.00 | +6.0% | 64.94 |
| 1993 | 26.96 | 27.00 | 26.50 | −6.5% | 62.88 |
| 1992 | 28.83 | 31.00 | 27.00 | −8.5% | 69.24 |
| 1991 | 31.50 | 34.00 | 31.00 | −4.2% | 77.93 |
| 1990 | 32.88 | 34.00 | 31.00 | +6.0% | 84.78 |
| 1989 | 31.00 | 31.00 | 31.00 | +10.3% | 84.26 |
| 1988 | 28.11 | 31.00 | 26.00 | +6.0% | 80.09 |
| 1987 | 26.51 | 27.30 | 26.20 | −12.8% | 78.61 |
| 1986 | 30.38 | 33.80 | 27.30 | −13.1% | 93.40 |
| 1985 | 34.95 | 35.10 | 34.50 | +6.4% | 109.48 |
| 1984 | 32.85 | 35.80 | 29.30 | — | 106.55 |
Yearly averages of monthly prices. Today's dollars adjust for US consumer price inflation (CPI-U).
| Month | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 98.20 | +1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 96.80 | +0.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 96.30 | 0.0% |
| Jun 2026 | 96.30 | +0.7% |
| May 2026 | 95.60 | +0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 94.80 | +1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 93.80 | +2.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 91.20 | +0.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 90.60 | −0.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 90.90 | −0.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 91.60 | 0.0% |
| Oct 2025 | 91.60 | −0.8% |
| Sep 2025 | 92.30 | −1.1% |
| Aug 2025 | 93.30 | −0.3% |
| Jul 2025 | 93.60 | −0.2% |
| Jun 2025 | 93.80 | −0.5% |
| May 2025 | 94.30 | −1.4% |
| Apr 2025 | 95.60 | −2.4% |
| Mar 2025 | 98.00 | −2.4% |
| Feb 2025 | 100.40 | −2.8% |
| Jan 2025 | 103.30 | −2.1% |
| Dec 2024 | 105.50 | −1.2% |
| Nov 2024 | 106.80 | 0.0% |
| Oct 2024 | 106.80 | +0.7% |
The Coal (South Africa) price averaged 98.20 USD / metric ton in September 2026, +6.4% against a year earlier. These are monthly benchmark prices; physical trades add freight, quality premiums and taxes.
The highest monthly price since 1984 was 302.00 USD / metric ton in April 2022; the lowest was 21.30 USD / metric ton in August 2002.
In today's dollars, the 2025 average of 94.89 USD / metric ton is worth about 99.31 USD / metric ton. The highest yearly average in today's dollars was 276.96 USD / metric ton in 2022.
Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), licensed under CC BY 4.0; inflation adjustment with US CPI-U from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.