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Metallurgical Coal

Metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal or steelmaking coal, is a grade of coal used primarily as a raw material in the production of steel. It differs from thermal coal, which is burned for electricity generation, in that it has specific properties—including low ash, low sulphur and high carbon content—that make it suitable for conversion into coke through high-temperature carbonisation. Coke serves as both a fuel and a reducing agent in blast furnaces, where iron ore is smelted to produce pig iron, the precursor to steel. Metallurgical coal is therefore a critical input for the global steel industry, and demand is closely tied to construction, infrastructure development and manufacturing activity. Major producers include Australia, the United States, Canada, Russia and Indonesia, with Australia's Queensland region being the world's largest exporter. The seaborne metallurgical coal market is dominated by a small number of large mining companies, including BHP, Glencore, Teck Resources and Anglo American, alongside mid-tier producers such as Stanmore Resources and Peabody Energy. Prices are typically negotiated quarterly or under long-term contracts and are sensitive to steel production cycles, particularly in China, Japan, South Korea and India. Metallurgical coal mining is capital-intensive and subject to stringent quality specifications, with premium hard coking coal commanding significant price premiums over lower-grade products.

Metallurgical Coal News


Peabody reports improved thermal coal performance, higher seaborne pricing
Peabody reports improved thermal coal performance, higher seaborne pricing
5th November 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

US coal producer Peabody Energy has reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of $97.5-million in the third quarter of this year, compared to... 


Whitehaven coal conveyor
Australia's Whitehaven Coal beats quarterly output estimates on Queensland strength
23rd October 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Whitehaven Coal beat market estimates for quarterly output on Friday, supported by robust production from its Queensland operations, and said it expected stronger cash generation... 


Kestrel mine
Yancoal completes $1.85bn takeover of Kestrel met coal mine
1st October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Yancoal Australia has completed the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Kestrel coal mine, in Queensland, for $1.85-billion. Yancoal announced in April it would acquire the entire... 


Burton coal complex
Surge in China's coal imports may start to taper off
11th August 2026 By: Reuters

China's coal imports surged to the highest this year in July but the strength is deceiving and built on short-term factors that are unlikely to persist. Total coal imports rose 23% in July from... 


Metallurgical coal pile
Newly operational met coal producer Clinch reaches first train, seaborne shipment milestones
24th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed metallurgical coal producer Clinch Resources has sold its first 11 000 t train shipment of commercial-grade metallurgical coal, with its first seaborne vessel expected to ship 65 000 t... 


Coal processing plant in Russia
India pivots to Russian crude and coal to mitigate Iran war fallout
23rd June 2026 By: Reuters

India has swung to buying Russian crude oil and coal to bolster its energy supplies after flows were disrupted and prices rose during the Iran conflict. The world's third-largest oil importer is... 


MinRes iron-ore in truck
Iron ore miners highlight India, ASEAN as they look for growth after China
17th June 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's iron-ore miners emphasised on Tuesday how growing steel demand in India and Southeast Asia would help offset the stagnating market in top customer China, where they also face pressure... 


Ramaco metallurgical coal mine, in the US
REalloys partners with met coal miner Ramaco in rare earths, scandium drive
29th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Vertically integrated US rare earth processing and magnet supply chain company REalloys has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based metallurgical coal miner Ramaco Resources to... 


PPE Helmets
US Department of Labour partners with met coal body to improve safety culture
29th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The US Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced on May 29 that it has established an alliance with the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) that will... 


Logan Mining Complex
Coal developer Coronado sells non-core Logan Mining Complex to focus on met coal
25th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Coronado Global Resources has signed an agreement to divest ownership of its coal assets comprising the Logan Mining Complex, in West Virginia, in the US. Coronado agreed to sell 100%... 


Metallurgical coal pile in West Virginia
Clinch Resources starts commercial production of met coal in US
21st May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Clinch Resources has started with commercial metallurgical coal production at its Lanes Branch surface mining operation, in Wyoming, West Virginia, ahead of schedule. Having... 


An image showing an overview of the Makhado project
New directors appointed as KDG subsidiary becomes MC Mining’s controlling shareholder
5th May 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Global coal operator Kinetic Development Group’s (KDG’s) wholly-owned special purpose vehicle Kinetic Crest has become the controlling shareholder of JSE-, ASX- and Aim-listed MC Mining, in which... 


Whitehaven Coal conveyor
Australia's Whitehaven Coal posts quarterly output rise, sees higher coal prices
28th April 2026 By: Reuters

Whitehaven Coal met market expectations for third-quarter production as reported on April 28, helped by its New South Wales open-cut mines, and forecast higher long-term prices for both... 


The Moranbah North mine
Anglo advances coal business sale after setback with Peabody
23rd April 2026 By: Bloomberg

Anglo American has at least three potential buyers for its Australian steelmaking coal business after a sale to Peabody Energy Corp was derailed last year following a fire at one of the mines.... 


BHP's McArthur coal mine
BHP begins review to rank unprofitable Australian coal mines
20th April 2026 By: Bloomberg

Australia-headquartered BHP Group and Mitsubishi Development have launched a review process to rank the financial health of their coal mines and assets in Queensland after raising concerns about... 


Geraldine Slattery
Energy security overtakes decarbonisation as resources become tools of power, says BHP's Slattery
24th March 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

The global mining and energy landscape has entered a period of “structural volatility” that is redefining resources from being traded commodities to instruments of national power, BHP Australia... 


NSW shuts door on new greenfield coal mines as transition strategy unveiled
NSW shuts door on new greenfield coal mines as transition strategy unveiled
20th March 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

The New South Wales (NSW) government will no longer consider applications for new standalone greenfield coal mines, it announced on Friday, unveiling a policy aimed at balancing emissions reduction... 


Lower coal prices trim Yancoal’s earnings
25th February 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

ASX-listed Yancoal Australia increased coal production in 2025 but reported sharply lower earnings as weaker international coal prices weighed on revenue and margins. For the year ended December... 


Stanmore delivers record output, lifts dividend despite softer coal prices
23rd February 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

ASX-listed Stanmore Resources has reported record run-of-mine and saleable coal production for the 2025 financial year in what CEO Marcelo Matos describes as an expansionary 12-month period for the... 


Whitehaven Coal posts surprise first-half loss on weaker prices, shares fall
Whitehaven Coal posts surprise first-half loss on weaker prices, shares fall
19th February 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Whitehaven Coal posted a surprise first-half loss on Thursday, pressured by weaker realised prices that offset robust production across its major operations, sending its shares down... 


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pqt: 0.066s - ct: 0.134s - 275pq - 2rq
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