API4 Benchmark
API4 Coal Price Today
Track the latest API4 coal benchmark, daily market movement, and export coal pricing indicators.
$125.40USD per ton
Last Updated: 16 September 2026 07:13 SAST
-1.45% vs previous market day
API4 MARKET SNAPSHOT
API4 Coal Price
- Current Price
- $125.40
- USD/Tonne
- 1 Day Change
- -1.45%
- 7 Day Change
- -0.20% (-$0.25)
- 30 Day Change
- +13.33% (+$14.75)
- Market Date
- 07:13 SAST
RB1 Coal Price
- Current Price
- $125.40
- USD/Tonne
- 1 Day Change
- -1.45%
- 7 Day Change
- -0.20% (-$0.25)
- 30 Day Change
- +13.33% (+$14.75)
- Market Date
- 07:13 SAST
RB2 Coal Price
- Current Price
- $120.40
- USD/Tonne
- 1 Day Change
- -1.45%
- 7 Day Change
- -0.20% (-$0.25)
- 30 Day Change
- +13.33% (+$14.75)
- Market Date
- 07:13 SAST
RB3 Coal Price
- Current Price
- $115.40
- USD/Tonne
- 1 Day Change
- -1.45%
- 7 Day Change
- -0.20% (-$0.25)
- 30 Day Change
- +13.33% (+$14.75)
- Market Date
- 07:13 SAST
API4 30-Day Price Trend
API4 Price Trend
Understanding the API4 Coal Index Price
The API4 Coal Index is the main pricing reference for thermal coal exported through Richards Bay in South Africa. It reflects the market value of coal sold on a Free on Board (FOB) basis, which means the price covers the coal loaded onto a vessel before shipping costs are added.
Coal producers, exporters, traders, and power companies use the API4 Coal Index as a common reference when buying and selling South African thermal coal. Instead of negotiating every shipment from scratch, many contracts use the index as the starting point for pricing, with adjustments made for coal quality, quantity, and delivery terms.
The index is influenced by normal market activity. Changes in supply, demand from importing countries, export volumes, freight costs, and overall energy markets all play a part in where the index moves over time. For businesses involved in the coal industry, following the API4 Coal Index gives a clear view of how export coal values are changing and provides a consistent reference for comparing prices across different periods.
What is South Africa’s Role in the Global Coal Market?
South Africa is one of the world’s largest exporters of thermal coal and has supplied international energy markets for decades. Most export coal leaves through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, one of the largest coal export terminals in the world, before being shipped to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.
The country’s coal industry supports power generation, mining, rail transport, port operations, and thousands of jobs across the supply chain. Export coal remains an important source of foreign income, while domestic coal continues to play a major role in South Africa’s electricity generation.
Because South Africa is a major supplier to international buyers, changes in production, rail performance, port capacity, and global demand are reflected in export pricing over time. The API4 Coal Index is widely followed because it provides a benchmark for South African export coal and shows how the market is moving from one trading session to the next.
What Influences the API4 Coal Index?
The API4 Coal Index moves when the export coal market changes. The main drivers are demand from large coal-buying countries, available supply from South African coial suppliers, rail performance to Richards Bay, port loading capacity, and freight costs.
Demand from Asia has a strong influence because many buyers in the region still rely on imported thermal coal for power generation and industrial use. When buyers are active, export prices often receive support, and when buying slows, prices often come under pressure.
South African supply also matters. If mines produce less coal, rail deliveries slow down, or exports through Richards Bay face delays, the available coal for shipment becomes tighter. When supply improves, buyers have more options, and pricing pressure tends to ease.
Energy markets outside coal also play a role. Natural gas prices, seasonal electricity demand, weather patterns, and changes in power generation all influence how much coal buyers need. This is why the API4 Coal Index does not move for one reason only; it reflects several supply, demand, and logistics factors working together.
Why the Coal Index Price South Africa Matters
The coal index price in South Africa is used across the export coal industry as a reference point when pricing coal for international buyers. Producers, traders, exporters, and buyers all watch the index because it helps create a common starting point for commercial negotiations.
Changes in the API4 Coal Index can influence how export coal is valued and how companies plan future sales. When prices move higher or lower, businesses often review contracts, production plans, and purchasing decisions. The index also gives buyers and sellers a way to compare today’s market with previous weeks, months, or years.
For anyone involved in South African export coal, following the coal index price helps explain how the market is changing over time. Looking at the price every day, together with recent trends and market updates, gives a clearer picture than looking at a single price on its own.
People Also Search for
What is the latest API4 coal price today?
The latest API4 coal price today is $125.40/t, based on the most recent market update published on 16 September 2026, 07:13 SAST. The API4 Coal Index is the main reference price for South African export thermal coal and is used in coal trading around the world. Many export contracts are negotiated using the API4 price as the starting point before adjustments are made for coal quality, quantity, and delivery terms. Following the latest API4 price helps buyers, sellers, and traders understand where the export coal market is trading today and how it compares with previous market sessions.
What is the API4 coal price in South Africa?
The current API4 coal price in South Africa is $125.40/t, using the latest available market update from 16 September 2026, 07:13 SAST. Although the index is published for the international export market, it reflects thermal coal loaded at Richards Bay for export. Coal mining companies, exporters, international buyers, commodity traders, and financial analysts all use the API4 Coal Index when assessing market conditions. It remains the most widely recognised pricing reference for South African export thermal coal and is followed across the global coal industry.
What is the RB1 coal price today?
The RB1 coal price today is $125.40/t, calculated from the latest available API4 coal price. RB1 is one of South Africa's highest-quality export thermal coal products and is widely traded in international markets. Because RB1 pricing usually follows movements in the API4 Coal Index, buyers and sellers often compare both values before negotiating contracts. The RB1 price provides a useful indication of how premium export thermal coal is being valued relative to the broader export coal market.
What is the RB2 coal price today?
The RB2 coal price today is $120.40/t, calculated from the latest available API4 coal price. RB2 represents a different export coal specification and normally trades below RB1 because of its quality characteristics. Comparing the RB2 price with the API4 Coal Index helps buyers and traders understand the typical price difference between benchmark export coal and a lower specification product. This makes it easier to compare offers and assess pricing across different export coal grades.
What is the RB3 coal price today?
The RB3 coal price today is $115.40/t, calculated from the latest available API4 coal price. RB3 is generally the lowest-priced export thermal coal grade among the commonly traded Richards Bay products because of its specification. Tracking the RB3 price alongside API4, RB1, and RB2 gives a broader view of how different export coal grades are valued in the market. Looking at these prices together provides useful pricing context rather than relying on a single coal grade alone.