Thermal coal (South Africa, Richards Bay)
98US$/t▲ 1.4% vs Aug 2026
Latest observation Sept 2026
- Latest
- 98
- Change
- +235.2%
- Year on year
- +6.4%
- High
- 302 Apr 2022
- Low
- 21 Aug 2002
- Average
- 62
- Volatility
- 24.3%
Thermal coal (South Africa, Richards Bay) is 98 US$/t (Sept 2026), 235.2% higher than in Jan 1984. Over the last year: +6.4%.
What is this?
The world market price of thermal coal (south africa, richards bay) (US$/t).
Coal is one of Mozambique's largest exports (Tete province, exported through Beira and Nacala). Richards Bay is the nearest regional benchmark; Moatize also produces coking coal, which has no free benchmark here.
How to read it
Higher means the commodity sells for more on world markets.
Unit: US$/t.
Measure: Global benchmark price.
What does the data say?
Thermal coal (South Africa, Richards Bay) is 98 US$/t (Sept 2026), 235.2% higher than in Jan 1984. Over the last year: +6.4%.
Over all 513 observations since Jan 1984, the highest was 302 (Apr 2022) and the lowest 21 (Aug 2002).
Why does it matter?
- Households: Affects local prices only where Mozambique imports the product.
- Businesses: Exporters earn more when world prices rise; importers pay more.
- Government: Royalties and export taxes move with world prices.
- Investors: Commodity exposure of Mozambique's exports.
- Mobile money: Indirect; mainly through incomes in producing regions.
Observed facts are above; these are possible implications, not measured effects.
What should I watch?
Data source
- Source
- World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet)
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Observations
- 513 (Jan 1984 – Sept 2026)
- Source published
- 2026-10-02
- Last retrieved
- 2026-10-17
- Method
- Monthly average in nominal US dollars. Column "Coal, South African **" ($/mt).
- Limitations
- A world market price, not the price Mozambican producers or exporters actually receive, nor the export unit value in customs data.
- Download
- All stored observations (JSON) · CSV from the chart