Aug Coal up 20 a Ton

Blackdiamonddoug · Post by **Blackdiamonddoug** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 2:05 pm

Hi All
just ordered a truck load of superior pea coal to be delivered in August.
price is up 20 dollar's a ton from this month.
160 a ton now plus delivery
BDD

Post by **Richard S.** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 2:13 pm

Generally speaking every breaker will higher the cost late August into mid September. The amount and date varies but it's written in stone that it will. Coal was always cheaper in the summer, in the past it was usually a $5 to $10 difference.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 2:27 pm

Lets seee...in one year, $140 to $160, coal up 15%... oil from $2.54 to $4.89, up 93%. Pick which ever seems to hurt less!

gambler · Post by **gambler** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 5:04 pm

Freddy wrote:Pick which ever seems to hurt less!

Its like getting a prostate exam from a small Asian doctor or a 6' 5" Marine Corps doctor.

stovepipemike · Post by **stovepipemike** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 5:19 pm

I just this day got my second ton of pea coal from the yard to stockpile. I asked how much was the hike going to be starting in August and was told $8.00/ton.My location south central Pa.The way things are today that does not seem unreasonable to me.It is jeddo coal that he handles.I paid $179.00 before the price hike takes a grip.From what I am learning the hard way, coal and splitting wood are to be handled best when there is a nip in the air not equitorial summertime in Penna. Regards, MIke

EnergyAllStars · Post by **EnergyAllStars** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 5:52 pm

Last year in May I paid $230 a ton for wood pellets. . . . this year same time I paid $290. . . . somehow when you factor in the BTUs your still gettin for a $160 ton of coal vs. the BTUs of other fuel types, it's STILL one heck of a deal!

After I order my boiler, next step in the spring is building coal "shed" that will hold 20+ tons!!!

Post by **Richard S.** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 7:57 pm

It takes approx 1.5 tons of pellets to match a ton of coal so if you're paying $160 for the coal or $290 for the pellets its not even close. The coal would have to be like $450 a ton before pellets could compete if they are $290.

coalmeister · Post by **coalmeister** » Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 8:42 pm

EnergyAllStars wrote:Last year in May I paid $230 a ton for wood pellets. . . . this year same time I paid $290. . . . somehow when you factor in the BTUs your still gettin for a $160 ton of coal vs. the BTUs of other fuel types, it's STILL one heck of a deal!

After I order my boiler, next step in the spring is building coal "shed" that will hold 20+ tons!!!

290?? The local dealer was selling pellets for $195 this Spring until they raised it to $225 in July. I considered continuing to burn pellets but I'm sick and tired of carrying those stinkin' bags in every day. Coal boiler in the garage loaded with a tractor loader once a month is the way to go in my book.

Post by **Richard S.** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 8:40 am

Well at $225 for ton of pellets we're getting closer, now the coal would have to cost $375.

FYI I'm basing that on 16.5 million BTU's per ton for the pellets as opposed to just under 25 million BTU's for a ton of coal. I'd assume the BTU output differs for different brands of pellets so you'd have to adjust based on that. It can also differe for the coal, matter of fact there are small fluctuations for even oil and gas.

Cyber36 · Post by **Cyber36** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 11:55 am

Since when has the month of August changed status from a summer month to a fall month??

Post by **Richard S.** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 12:24 pm

I'd imagine due to the demand and other costs they are increasing it early. Keep in mind the price hasn't gone up since the fall. When's the last time you heard of fuel going almost a year without a price change? Anthracite coal prices historically do not fluctuate like other fuels instead you have larger increases or decreases with longer gaps in between. I'll venture to guess it will go up again before the fall is over. Rough guess is late Sept. to mid October.

1termite · Post by **1termite** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 8:43 pm

just picked up a load of buckwheat at hudson and the lady said the price would be going up 10.00 on the 18th of aug.

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Thu. Jul. 31, 2008 11:29 pm

The reason August isn't considered summer in the coal industry is that people are thinking about September in August when there is a concern over winter fuel. September is when frost hits and people start thinking about heat. In May, June, and July nobody wants to buy coal.

Post by **Richard S.** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 1:01 am

Actually I had quite a good business in the summer but I'd offer a better deal on the delivery in addition to the slightly lower price from the breaker. No other way to service that many customers. I'd kill myself in the fall the way it was. As for the 18th of august price increase at Hudson it's the earliest I've seen from them but not by much. It usually went up the first of September.

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Fri. Aug. 01, 2008 10:30 pm

I'm glad I got all my coal in this year before July 1st. Come October 1st I want to think about hunting animals, not hunting for coal.