Argus Coal Daily
Daily and weekly coal price assessments, market news and data analysis covering physical and OTC coal markets across the Americas.
Overview
Argus Coal Daily is a daily price report providing independent price assessments, market news and analysis for physical and over-the-counter (OTC) coal markets across the Americas. The report covers Central Appalachia, Powder River basin, Illinois basin and international export markets, with daily OTC and weekly physical assessments to support trading, benchmarking and commercial decision-making.
At a glance
- Daily OTC and weekly physical price assessments.
- Covers Central Appalachia, PRB and Illinois basin coal.
- Enables contract settlement and trading decisions.
- Real-time market news and analysis from expert reporters.
- Track freight rates, spark spreads and generating costs.
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Key features
Physical and OTC prices
Daily OTC assessments for CSX, Powder River basin and Illinois basin, plus weekly physical prices across Central Appalachia, Northern Appalachia and Colorado/Utah.
News and analysis
Up-to-the-minute news and analysis on events shaping the industry.
Freight rate assessments
Weekly ocean, rail and barge freight assessments covering key US domestic and export routes, supporting delivered cost calculations and logistics planning decisions.
Competing fuels analysis
Weekly comparison of US coal and natural gas prices to major destinations, plus daily spark spreads for Indiana, PJM, N. Illinois and other key power markets.
Market news and analysis
Real-time news and in-depth analysis on supply, demand, policy and infrastructure developments shaping US and international coal markets, published via Argus Direct®.
On-Time Delivery Index
An independent measure of railroad on-time performance, scored on a shipper-reported scale to give producers, utilities and logistics teams a nationwide view of rail reliability.
How Argus assesses US coal markets
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Participant polling and survey
Argus polls producers, consumers and intermediaries by phone and email to gather representative market data. -
Volume-weighted deal average
Assessments are based on a volume-weighted average of deals done and a survey of active market participants. -
Transaction verification
Reporters verify price, volume and specifications for each deal, applying defined tests to detect and exclude anomalous data. -
Assessment timing and schedule
US OTC prices are assessed daily. Weekly physical market prices are assessed on Fridays, with data accepted up to 4:00pm ET. -
Judgment in illiquid markets
Where transactions are absent, Argus uses bids, offers and market intelligence to produce representative price assessments.
Who uses this service
Coal producers and utilities
- Use Argus price indexes for contract settlements and requests for proposal.
- Reference Argus assessments in regulatory rate and fuel proceedings.
- Benchmark delivered coal costs across competing supply regions.
Coal traders
- Use Argus OTC assessments as impartial references when negotiating physical contracts.
- Identify arbitrage opportunities across Central Appalachia, PRB and Illinois basin markets.
- Track forward OTC curves up to three years ahead to support trading positions.
Risk managers
- Apply Argus OTC indexes to settle derivatives and manage price exposure.
- Monitor daily and weekly assessments to track market volatility.
- Support rate and fuel testimony to state regulators with independently assessed prices.
Mining and investment firms
- Use Argus market data to underpin business feasibility and expansion plans.
- Support capital funding decisions with independently assessed price series.
- Track coal market trends to inform long-term production and investment strategy.
Frequently asked questions
Key price assessments
Argus Coal Daily price assessments are recognised as trusted indicators of real market value for US physical and OTC coal markets, used for contract settlement, benchmarking and commercial decision-making across the Americas coal market.