Illinois basin and Appalachian coal prices are likely headed toward a more stable period following last year's spike and recent steep declines. Thermal coal prices in the Illinois basin and northern and central Appalachia roughly doubled between October 2021 and July 2022 on better than expected domestic and international demand in the first half of the year as well as limited supply and elevated natural gas prices. During the height of the price gains, in the first full week of July 2022, Argus' assessment for prompt quarter Illinois basin 11,500 Btu/lb 5lb SO2/mmBtu coal jumped by $45/short ton to a record $200/st ... (full story)