Coal prices held above $130 per ton, below the 17-month high of $146.5 reached on March 20, but still up nearly 15% since the war began in late February. The move reflects spillover from higher oil and LNG risk premiums as failed US-Iran peace talks keep key shipping routes uncertain. Asia is leaning on coal for baseload power, with Japan extending coal plant use and South Korea easing curbs, while China boosts domestic coal output and advances coal-to-gas projects to cut import risk. The shift underscores a broader energy-security pivot as gas and oil supply fears persist. Still, any rebound in Middle Eastern energy flows could unwind recent gains, while long-term demand faces pressure from accelerating renewable energy growth and policy transitions worldwide. In corporate news, Anglo American is attracting at least three bidders for its Australian steelmaking coal assets, with Stanmore Resources, Mitsubishi Corporation and PT Buma Internasional Grup among suitors.

Coal fell to 134.40 USD/T on May 5, 2026, down 0.85% from the previous day. Over the past month, Coal's price has fallen 2.54%, but it is still 35.21% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Coal reached an all time high of 457.80 in September of 2022. Coal - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on May 6 of 2026.

Coal fell to 134.40 USD/T on May 5, 2026, down 0.85% from the previous day. Over the past month, Coal's price has fallen 2.54%, but it is still 35.21% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Coal is expected to trade at 135.64 USD/MT by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate it to trade at 144.83 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Crude Oil 98.27 -4.001 -3.91% -13.00% 69.23% May/06
Brent 106.06 -3.814 -3.47% -2.94% 73.52% May/06
Natural gas 2.76 -0.0297 -1.07% -3.89% -23.82% May/06
Heating Oil 3.93 -0.0996 -2.47% -12.21% 99.00% May/06
Coal 134.40 -1.15 -0.85% -2.54% 35.21% May/05
TTF Gas 45.81 -1.12 -2.38% -13.97% 33.75% May/06
UK Gas 112.68 -2.3410 -2.04% -16.53% 36.61% May/06
Bitumen 4,391.00 27.00 0.62% -0.05% 28.77% May/06
Ethanol 2.03 -0.0200 -0.98% 2.02% 16.05% May/05
Uranium 86.45 0 0% 1.53% 23.15% May/05
Cobalt 56,290.00 0 0% 0% 67.03% May/05
Lead 1,986.70 12.80 0.65% 2.28% 1.43% May/06
Aluminum 3,570.20 -5.55 -0.16% 3.05% 50.01% May/06
Tin 49,721.00 298 0.60% 7.44% 61.97% May/05
Zinc 3,417.13 47.83 1.42% 3.08% 30.53% May/06
Nickel 19,912.00 277 1.41% 16.96% 27.40% May/06
Palladium 1,540.00 26.00 1.72% 5.73% 59.59% May/06


Coal
Coal is one of the most widely used energy sources globally, particularly for electricity generation and industrial processes such as steel production. Despite the growth of renewable energy, coal remains a key component of the global energy mix, and its prices are closely monitored due to their impact on power generation costs and industrial activity. Coal futures are traded on major exchanges, including the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). A widely referenced contract is the Newcastle coal futures contract listed on ICE, which represents 1,000 metric tonnes. On the supply side, China is the largest producer and consumer of coal globally. Other major producers include the United States, India, Australia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Germany, and Poland. Leading exporters include Indonesia, Australia, Russia, United States, Colombia, South Africa, and Kazakhstan. Coal prices displayed on Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments and are intended to provide a general market reference only. These prices do not represent official benchmark prices. The data is supplied by a third party and, while efforts are made to ensure its reliability, Trading Economics does not verify the data and makes no representations or warranties.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
134.40 135.55 457.80 48.40 2008 - 2026 USD/MT Daily

News Stream
Energy Security Demand Supports Coal Prices
Coal prices held above $130 per ton, below the 17-month high of $146.5 reached on March 20, but still up nearly 15% since the war began in late February. The move reflects spillover from higher oil and LNG risk premiums as failed US-Iran peace talks keep key shipping routes uncertain. Asia is leaning on coal for baseload power, with Japan extending coal plant use and South Korea easing curbs, while China boosts domestic coal output and advances coal-to-gas projects to cut import risk. The shift underscores a broader energy-security pivot as gas and oil supply fears persist. Still, any rebound in Middle Eastern energy flows could unwind recent gains, while long-term demand faces pressure from accelerating renewable energy growth and policy transitions worldwide. In corporate news, Anglo American is attracting at least three bidders for its Australian steelmaking coal assets, with Stanmore Resources, Mitsubishi Corporation and PT Buma Internasional Grup among suitors.
2026-04-27
Coal Falls to Over 7-Week Low
Coal prices slipped below $130 per ton, easing from the 17-month high of $146.5 reached on March 20 to the lowest level in over seven weeks, as renewed hopes for US-Iran talks raised expectations that energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz could resume. Traders continue to monitor diplomatic signals closely, with the key shipping route still largely shut but seen as critical to restoring supply. The potential easing of gas disruptions could reduce the need for gas-to-coal switching in power generation. Still, the prolonged Middle East conflict continues to embed a risk premium across energy markets, having driven utilities in Asia and Europe to rely more heavily on coal. Despite the recent pullback, coal prices remain up nearly 9% since the war began in early March.
2026-04-24
Coal Hits 5-week Low
Coal decreased to 133.75 USD/T, the lowest since March 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, Coal lost 0.04%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 41.31%.
2026-04-15