Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of coal prices published by EIA?
EIA publishes various coal prices including futures prices, mine prices, captive and open market sales prices, and delivered prices.
- Spot Price is the price for a one-time open market transaction for immediate delivery purchased "on the spot" at current market rates.
- NYMEX Futures Price are prices on contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) for the delivery of a specified quantity of a commodity at a specified time and place in the future.
- Mine Sales Price is calculated from the free on board (FOB) value of coal at the coal mine without any insurance or freight transportation charges added.
- Captive Sales Price is the FOB sale price for coal used by the producing company or sold to affiliated or parent companies.
- Open Market Sales Price is the price of coal sold on the open market to companies other than the reporting company's parent company or a subsidiary of the parent company.
Learn more:
Last updated: September 5, 2012
Other FAQs about Coal
- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
- From what country does the U.S. import the most coal?
- How do I convert between short tons and metric tons?
- How large are U.S. coal reserves?
- How many and what kind of power plants are there in the United States?
- How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity?
- To what country does the U.S. export the most coal?
- What are the different types of coal prices published by EIA?
- What is the average heat (Btu) content of U.S. coal?
- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?
- Where can I find coking coal prices?
- Which states produce the most coal?