Australian thermal, Newcastle averaged $135.2/t in August 2026, +20% over twelve months and +101% over ten years. The nominal all-time high was $430.8/t in September 2022; in 2024 dollars the real peak was $456/t in September 2022. Monthly averages, World Bank Pink Sheet.
Australian thermal, NewcastleSouth African thermal, Richards Bay
Derived price statistics per series
Series
Latest
1 month
12 months
5 years
10 years
20 years
All-time high (nominal)
All-time high (real, 2024 US$)
Australian thermal, Newcastle $/t, since 1970
135.2 August 2026
+3%
+20%
-20%
+101%
+166%
430.8 September 2022
456 September 2022
South African thermal, Richards Bay $/t, since 1984
96.8 August 2026
+1%
+4%
-30%
+46%
+81%
302 April 2022
328.3 April 2022
Percentage changes compare the latest monthly average with the monthly average 1, 12, 60, 120 and 240 months earlier. Real prices deflate by the US consumer price index (BLS via FRED) to 2024 dollars.
Prices are monthly benchmark averages that may lag the market; informational only, not investment, legal or trade advice. For what these benchmarks mean and how they are set, see how coal is priced.
Monthly coal prices by decade
Choose a decade. Values are monthly averages in the unit shown; blank cells mean no quote was published.
Australian thermal, Newcastle ($/t)
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 1970s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
1970
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
1971
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
1972
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
1973
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5
1974
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
16.9
1975
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
26.8
1976
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
27.2
1977
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
28.7
1978
27.9
27.1
27.1
27.1
28.6
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
29.1
1979
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
30.2
31.3
31.3
32.4
32.4
32.4
30.93
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 1980s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
1980
32.4
32.4
32.4
39.5
40.1
40.7
40.7
44.2
44.6
44.6
45
45
40.13
1981
45
45
45
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
56.5
53.63
1982
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
55.6
45.5
54.76
1983
43
43
43
43
43
43
34.8
34.8
34.8
34.8
32
29.3
38.21
1984
29.3
29.3
29.3
29.3
29.3
31.8
31.8
31.8
31.8
31.8
32.8
33.8
31.01
1985
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
33.8
1986
33.8
33.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
30.8
29.3
31.18
1987
29.3
29.3
29.3
24.8
24.8
24.8
27
27
27
27
29
31
27.53
1988
31
31
33
33
33
36
36
36
37
37
37.5
38
34.88
1989
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 1990s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
1990
38
38
38
38
40.5
40.5
40.5
40.5
40.5
40.5
40.5
40.5
39.67
1991
40.5
40.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.67
1992
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
39.5
37.3
35
35
38.57
1993
35
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31.33
1994
31
31
29.5
29.5
31.4
33.6
33.1
33.1
33.1
33.1
33.1
36.1
32.3
1995
37.1
37.6
38.4
37.1
38.8
40.8
41.1
40.9
40.9
41
39.6
39.4
39.39
1996
39.4
39.3
39
39.3
38.2
38.2
38.4
38.4
38.1
37.6
35.7
35.4
38.08
1997
35.2
34.6
34.5
35.4
35.7
34.5
35
36.9
37.2
37.2
33.6
31.4
35.1
1998
31.4
33.4
31.9
31.2
30.3
30
30
26.2
27.1
27.1
26.1
26.1
29.23
1999
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
26.1
25.6
25.1
25.1
25.89
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 2000s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2000
25.1
25.1
25.1
25.1
25.6
25.6
25.6
25.6
27.2
27.2
27.2
30.8
26.27
2001
32.1
32.1
32.6
33.5
33.8
33.9
34
33.8
32.8
32.4
29.4
27.4
32.32
2002
27.4
28.1
27.8
27.1
26.9
24.9
23.2
22.3
22.7
24.5
24.5
24.5
25.33
2003
24.9
25.2
24.4
23.5
23.3
24.1
24.4
25.3
26.7
27.5
29.9
34
26.1
2004
37.8
41.8
48.9
53.3
56.4
59.6
61.4
59.3
55.4
56.6
52.8
52.3
52.97
2005
53
49.9
50.9
51.3
51.3
51
50.9
49.1
45.3
42.5
38.1
38.2
47.63
2006
43.2
47.7
49.8
52.9
52.6
52.4
52.8
50.9
47.1
44.1
46
49.8
49.11
2007
51.3
52.9
55.4
56.1
56
61.6
67.3
69.4
68.4
74.8
84.6
91
65.73
2008
91.8
132
118.3
123
133.2
159.8
180
158.4
150
108
92.3
78.7
127.1
2009
79.4
75.4
61
63.6
64.5
71.4
73.8
72.5
67.6
71.1
78.8
83.1
71.85
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 2010s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2010
97
94.2
94.4
100.2
100.1
98.2
96
89.8
94.9
97.5
107.2
118.3
98.98
2011
132.5
128.4
126.1
122.5
119.1
120.1
120.8
120.1
123.1
119.4
113.8
111.6
121.5
2012
116.5
117
107.5
103.6
95.8
87.2
88.2
91
89
81.9
85.9
92.9
96.38
2013
92.8
94.9
91
87.8
87.7
82.8
77.3
77
77.6
79.4
82.3
84.3
84.57
2014
81.6
76.3
73.3
72.8
73.7
71.5
68.8
68.9
65.9
63.7
62.6
62.4
70.13
2015
61.4
69.1
64.8
56.2
61.2
59
59.9
59.1
57.7
54.3
52.5
52.2
58.95
2016
49
50.3
52.2
50.7
51.3
52.9
61.2
67.4
72.7
94.2
103.4
88.2
66.13
2017
83.7
80
80.9
83.7
74.4
81.1
87.5
98.6
97.8
97.1
96.6
100.8
88.52
2018
106.5
106
96.7
93.7
105.3
114.3
119.6
117.3
114.2
108.7
100.7
101.4
107
2019
98.6
95.4
93.1
86.8
82.3
72.5
72.1
65.6
66
69.2
67
66.2
77.9
Australian thermal, Newcastle monthly prices, 2020s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2020
69.7
67.6
66.7
58.6
52.5
52.2
51.6
50.1
54.6
58.4
64.4
83
60.78
2021
86.8
86.7
94.9
92.2
107
130
152
169.6
185.7
224.5
157.5
169.7
138
2022
197
219.8
314
310.9
371.9
374.1
402.2
407
430.8
389.8
342.2
379.2
344.9
2023
318
207.5
187.2
194.3
160.5
139.4
140.6
152.6
162.5
142.1
126.8
141.8
172.8
2024
124.9
124.2
131.5
135
142
135.1
137.6
145.8
139.2
146.6
142.1
129.8
136.2
2025
118.6
106.9
104
98.6
104.4
109
112.9
112.2
106.3
107.5
112.6
107.7
108.4
2026
109.8
118.4
138.6
130.9
136.9
138.5
131.9
135.2
130
South African thermal, Richards Bay ($/t)
South African thermal, Richards Bay monthly prices, 1980s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
1984
29.3
29.3
29.3
29.3
29.3
34.3
35.8
35.8
35.8
35.8
35.3
34.9
32.85
1985
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
34.5
34.5
34.5
34.95
1986
33.8
33.8
31.6
31.6
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
27.3
30.38
1987
27.3
27.3
27.3
26.2
26.2
26.2
26.2
26.2
26.2
26.2
26.3
26.5
26.51
1988
26.5
26
26.5
27
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.5
29.3
30
30
31
28.11
1989
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
South African thermal, Richards Bay monthly prices, 1990s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
1990
31
31
31
31
32.5
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
32.88
1991
34
34
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31.5
1992
31
31
31
31
31
29
27
27
27
27
27
27
28.83
1993
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
26.5
26.96
1994
27
27
27
27
27
28.5
28.5
28.5
29
30.8
30.5
32
28.57
1995
34
34.5
34.8
35
35
34.9
36.2
35.7
35.9
35.8
36.1
35
35.24
1996
34.8
34.3
32.9
33.7
33.3
32.4
32.1
32
33.4
34.3
34.1
35
33.53
1997
34.6
33.8
33.4
33
32.5
32.3
31.3
31
29.9
29
27.7
27.8
31.36
1998
27.5
26.8
26.7
27.4
27.6
27.3
26.6
26.3
26.4
26.1
26.7
26.7
26.84
1999
26.5
26.4
25.1
25.1
25.1
25.3
23.8
23.1
22.5
22.5
23.5
22.6
24.29
South African thermal, Richards Bay monthly prices, 2000s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2000
22.8
23.6
24.4
24.9
26.1
27
27
27
27
28.2
26.2
34.7
26.58
2001
35
34.4
35.5
35.5
34.8
34.8
34.4
34.2
33.1
33
31.5
30.5
33.89
2002
29.7
29
28.4
26.8
25.8
24.4
22.7
21.3
23.1
27.4
27
26.9
26.04
2003
27.5
27
25.8
23.8
23.7
26.8
29.5
30.2
34.1
36.7
39.2
38.7
30.25
2004
41.3
42.3
42.5
47.3
52.6
62.6
68.5
63.6
61
59.7
60.8
54.3
54.71
2005
51.4
46.6
45.3
46.3
45.9
49.1
51.3
49.5
46.6
43.3
38.1
41
46.2
2006
44.7
49.4
54.5
54.9
50.4
52.4
51.7
53.6
48.8
49.2
48.2
50.7
50.71
2007
50.1
51.6
53.5
51.4
50.3
56.8
58.1
60.2
62.8
73.1
89.8
94.3
62.67
2008
100.6
115
111
108.8
120.7
142.4
167.8
156.9
147.8
109.7
89.4
77.3
120.6
2009
76.4
69.1
58.6
62.9
58
60.2
61.1
64.3
61.1
64.4
66.4
73.8
64.69
South African thermal, Richards Bay monthly prices, 2010s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2010
86.9
83.4
83
88.7
90.9
92.8
90.6
87.9
85.8
91
103.2
115.2
91.62
2011
122.6
117.7
121
124
120.5
119
116.3
118.3
115.6
110.9
105.5
104.2
116.3
2012
106.3
105.3
103.4
101.3
93.8
85.3
87.3
89.1
85.8
82.8
85.7
88.8
92.91
2013
86.1
85.1
82.8
82
81.8
77.3
72.6
72.9
73.1
80.6
83.8
84.6
80.23
2014
82.9
77.6
74.6
75.1
75.8
74.1
71.4
71.2
67.9
65.7
65.7
66.1
72.34
2015
59.3
63.5
59.9
59
61.6
60.7
57.9
55
51.4
50.1
53.3
48.8
56.71
2016
49.1
50.3
52.6
52.4
54.2
58.6
62.4
66.3
68.3
83.8
89.2
80.2
63.95
2017
86.5
83.6
79.1
78.9
74.4
79.2
81.7
87.8
92.3
91.4
91.4
95.5
85.15
2018
97.5
92.7
89.5
92.3
101.9
103.9
106
98.5
102.1
100.3
91.6
95.4
97.64
2019
91.3
84.2
78.8
72.5
68.9
62.9
65.8
60.4
61.4
67.4
73.6
76
71.93
South African thermal, Richards Bay monthly prices, 2020s, $/t
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average
2020
82.1
80
67.9
56.6
57.4
56.8
56.6
57.4
57.5
61
69.4
85.2
65.66
2021
86.9
82.8
90.7
89.1
99.3
112.9
122.3
137.9
146.1
199.7
128
142.5
119.9
2022
168.5
196.4
294.4
302
280
291.4
269.1
274.6
235
191.2
169.1
215
240.6
2023
172
144.7
136.8
133.7
103
98.6
96.8
97.6
99.9
128.4
109
108.8
119.1
2024
106.8
105.2
104.8
104.9
105.6
105.3
105.3
106.2
106.1
106.8
106.8
105.5
105.8
2025
103.3
100.4
98
95.6
94.3
93.8
93.6
93.3
92.3
91.6
91.6
90.9
94.89
2026
90.6
91.2
93.8
94.8
95.6
96.3
96.3
96.8
94.42
Method
Nominal prices are the source's monthly averages in US dollars, stored in the source's unit and never mixed on one chart. Real prices divide each month by the US consumer price index for all urban consumers (BLS series CPIAUCSL, via FRED) and multiply by the 2024 average, so they read as "2024 dollars". Changes are ratios of monthly averages. The all-time high is the highest monthly average, not an intraday peak.
Monthly prices as CSV (Australian thermal, Newcastle, South African thermal, Richards Bay)
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Coal price history (1970–2026)", https://commodityorigins.com/prices/coal/, data 2026-09-02. Data updated 6 September 2026.