Market reference update: Contract examples below may be historical. See the official exchange resources for current listings and terms.
Coal futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts in which the contract buyer agrees to take delivery, from the seller, a specific quantity of coal (eg. 1550 tons) at a predetermined price on a future delivery date.
Exchange and contract information
Contract availability, lot size, quotation units, exercise style and settlement are product-specific. Use the current official resources below; historical contracts named in older examples should not be assumed to be listed today.
Official futures market resources
Historical contract. The NYMEX Central Appalachian Coal (QL) contract described in this article was delisted. It has no current quotes or margin requirement. Exchange delisting notice
Exchange references reviewed 2026-09-12. Educational examples and exchange names elsewhere in this article may be historical.
Coal Futures Trading Basics
Consumers and producers of coal can manage coal price risk by purchasing and selling coal futures. Coal producers can employ a short hedge to lock in a selling price for the coal they produce while businesses that require coal can utilize a long hedge to secure a purchase price for the commodity they need.
Coal futures are also traded by speculators who assume the price risk that hedgers try to avoid in return for a chance to profit from favorable coal price movement. Speculators buy coal futures when they believe that coal prices will go up. Conversely, they will sell coal futures when they think that coal prices will fall.
