Average coal prices per the U.S. EIA

lsayre wrote:Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration the average price (in Dollars per short ton) for PA Anthracite coal was $57.10 in 2010.

http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table31.html

Would that imply that even the anthracite country locals who can get their coal for about $170 per ton are paying a nearly 300% margin premium?

very interesting

It has always struck me funny that, knowing most of our illustrious Govt. Agency's are full of crap & probably need to get off thier ass's & go out into the world periodically. when something like this pops up, all of a sudden it's gospel Sorry Isayre, just one old farmers thoughts

I agree with Fred that the govt. usually doesn't know what they are talking about. With that said, read the fine print. It says the figures don't include mines that produce less than 10,000 tons. Also, the price is probably for run-of-mine coal. If you want to separate the rock, pick out the bone, crush it, and screen it...you could probably buy some ROM anthracite and "save" some money.

There is very little margin in mining coal, the prices we pay are very reasonable for what is involved behind the scenes.

whats on paper with the irs and the cash that exchanged hands would be the difference.

lsayre wrote:Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration the average price (in Dollars per short ton) for PA Anthracite coal was $57.10 in 2010.

http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table31.html

Would that imply that even the anthracite country locals who can get their coal for about $170 per ton are paying a nearly 300% margin premium?

Looking at that report the numbers are suspect. It looks like someone slipped a Bit number into the Anthracite column. Obviously produced by a government agency. Do you trust the accuracy of the government?

I would agree, it must be the bit price.

Note: · An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold

So if you only take the sales of 100+ tons then use the weight of All sales excluding mines that produced 10,000 or less...
New Math...
And you wonder why people don' trust what the Goverment says...

Looking at the forms...

Export Coal: Producers are required to pay a black lung excise tax on every ton of coal (except lignite) mined. The tax is levied against the producers at the
first point of sale. However, if the coal is exported, the tax is not levied. Producers are required to file with the IRS to quantify the amount of export coal. The
coal export quantity reported on this form should be the same amount as reported to the IRS.

That's the mine price for raw unprocessed coal.

I'm having 4 tons of buckwheat delivered sprayed with oil on Monday Jan 2012 for $1069.00. In Phillipsburg, NJ

I have read that the price of Pa. anthracite, adjusted for inflation, is about the same as 1949. I hear alot of belly achin; about how clean air and mine safety regulations are making coal too expensive for some of you. it is cheap here in n.e.Pa. and we have just about all of it.

homecomfort wrote:I have read that the price of Pa. anthracite, adjusted for inflation, is about the same as 1949.

I know going from the 70's to about 2000 the price roughly followed inflation however over the last decade it has certainly exceeded it. IMO the reason it has exceeded inflation is because it was depressed for many decades. I can recall massive stack piles late 90's especially with the low cost of oil and this was during the winter. At one point they were running out of room to store it at Hudson.