Coal Costs Surge 50% in Two Months
Coal prices have risen sharply, over 50% in two months, pressuring paper mills. The surge has prompted industry leaders to seek government intervention to secure supplies.
Steam Price Trend Analysis 2026: Historical Prices, Latest News, Price Drivers, Market Insights & Supply Demand Analysis
Written ByVikas Jha
Steam Latest Development
BCCL raises prices of select coking coal grades
The Coal India subsidiary adjusted basic prices of selected raw coking coal grades for non-regulated buyers to correct inter‑grade differentials. The move is expected to marginally raise input costs for steelmakers, with only a modest overall impact due to the limited grade scope and small magnitude of the increase.
Steam Price Trend H1 2026
- Industrial steam generation costs remained relatively supported in the U.S. during H1 2026, as strong natural gas production and ample domestic supply limited fuel-cost pressure.
- U.S. marketed natural gas production averaged approximately 121 Bcf/d during H1 2026, around 4% above the corresponding period of 2025, reinforcing domestic supply availability.
- Crude oil and international gas markets experienced substantial volatility following the Strait of Hormuz disruption, increasing fuel-cost uncertainty for steam-intensive industries outside the well-supplied U.S. market.
Industrial steam costs during H1 2026 remained closely tied to natural gas and other boiler-fuel conditions, with regional differences becoming increasingly important. In the United States, strong gas production and domestic availability helped contain pressure on fuel costs, while industrial natural gas consumption also remained robust. EIA data showed dry-gas production continuing to increase through the first half, with June production reaching its highest daily rate for that month in the historical series. Meanwhile, international energy markets faced a very different environment after disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz sharply affected oil and LNG flows. EIA reported that Brent crude prices rose substantially during Q1, while international LNG prices also increased as shipping through the strait was disrupted. These developments increased fuel-cost uncertainty for steam-intensive industries, particularly in regions more dependent on imported energy. Overall, U.S. steam-generation economics remained comparatively stable, while international markets faced greater volatility.
Analyst Insight
Industrial steam costs are expected to remain regionally divergent, with strong U.S. gas supply limiting upward pressure while continued energy-market disruptions could keep imported-fuel costs elevated elsewhere.
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Steam-generation costs turned firmer again during 2025 as natural-gas prices recovered from their exceptionally low 2024 levels. In the United States, the Henry Hub benchmark averaged approximately USD 3.52/MMBtu, around 56% higher than the 2024 average. EIA linked the increase to stronger LNG export demand and changing seasonal consumption, although record production during the summer helped moderate the market before prices strengthened again toward year-end. Industrial natural-gas prices followed the broader recovery, averaging above 2024 levels across most months. Regional conditions remained uneven, with colder weather and pipeline constraints producing sharper price movements in parts of the U.S. Northeast. At the same time, global LNG demand continued to influence the opportunity cost of domestic gas. For steam-intensive manufacturers, the year therefore represented a transition from the exceptionally low fuel-cost environment of 2024 toward a more balanced and moderately firm cost structure, encouraging continued attention to boiler efficiency, fuel sourcing, and energy management.
About Steam
Steam basically refers to the water in its gaseous form. Steam is obtained through boiling or evaporation of water. While the steam that is saturated or superheated is invisible, the real steam or wet steam is often formed upon the condensation of water vapour.
Traditionally, steam is created by heating a boiler and burning coal or other fuels, but now-a-days, it can also be created using solar energy. The enthalpy of vaporization is the energy that is needed to turn water into the gaseous form as it increases in volume by 1,700 times at standard temperature and pressure.
Steam Product Detail
Industrial Uses
Heat treatment, Sterilization, Energy/electricity production, Agricultural, Energy storage, Lifting gas, Mechanical effort, Wood treatment, Concrete treatment
Regional Coverage
Asia Pacific
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand
Europe
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece
North America
United States and Canada
Latin America
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru
Africa
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Steam Production Processes
- Production of Steam via Boiling
In order to produce Steam, water is heated at standard temperature and pressure. As the water starts to boil at 1000C, its evaporation takes place, thus, leading to the formation of Steam.
Our Price Analysis Methodology
About the Author
Vikas Jha
Vice President - Sales and Operations
Driving growth and operational excellence at Procurement Resource by partnering with global enterprises on procurement consulting and client solutions, with expertise in scaling research operations and delivering actionable commodity intelligence.
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