Will Coal Run Out This Winter? Prices Surge and Some Grades Vanish

21 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Household coal prices climb and some grades disappear, raising fears of a coal shortage in Poland ahead of winter.

Are you stocking up for winter? Rising prices and limited availability at some suppliers have pushed the debate about a coal shortage in Poland into the headlines. Buyers face higher bills and harder choices over which fuel types to buy.

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Why prices are climbing now

Suppliers report rapid price moves weeks before the heating season. In one case, an imported coal seller in Bydgoszcz raised his price from 1460 zł to 1780 zł per tonne in about two weeks. That jump equals 320 zł on each tonne. Households buying four tonnes would face 1,280 zł more.

Across regions and product types, retail prices now sit around 1600–2000 zł per tonne. Some private depots already charge above 2000 zł. Market-branded packaged coal sold in hardware stores often converts to about 1550–1750 zł per tonne. Certain bagged offers come close to 2000 zł per tonne.

Which coal is hardest to find

Thicker coal grades—called “orzech” and “kostka”—cause the most concern. Many older boilers and stoves still need these sizes. Sellers say the issue often looks like limited stock of specific grades rather than a complete shortage. That means you might find coal, but not the exact size your stove requires.

State supplier flags limited B2B stock

Polska Grupa Górnicza (PGG) lists selected products as “BRAK TOWARU” in its B2B shop. The affected items include some orzech from mines such as Piast-Ziemowit, Jankowice, Marcel, Murcki-Staszic and Mysłowice-Wesoła. PGG sales for households use a separate channel. Thus, a B2B “BRAK TOWARU” status does not automatically mean the grade is unavailable for individual buyers.

PGG prices also rose. In mid-August some PGG coal listed near 1135 zł per tonne. By late August or September the company quoted orzech near 1229–1279 zł and then about 1300–1350 zł per tonne. Big-bag packaged coal reached roughly 1500–1550 zł per tonne. Remember, transport costs and pickup methods push final prices higher.

Supply data and long-term trends

The government ministries say they do not foresee a national-scale shortage. Official figures show extraction rising in the first half of 2026 from about 20,4 mln to 21,15 mln ton, and imports of energy coal increased too. At the same time, longer term extraction declines continue. The Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny reported 38,73 mln ton of hard coal in 2025. That number fell by 1,428 mln ton, or 3,56 percent, from the previous year.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: In Poland many households still use coal in older boilers. If you rely on such heating, check the coal size your appliance needs. Also note basic Polish institutions: ZUS is the social security office, NFZ runs public healthcare, and PESEL is your national ID number. When buying large coal deliveries, confirm logistics and any local regulations. Avoid panic buying; it can push local prices higher.

The most immediate pressure will appear when the first hard frosts hit. If many households buy at once, local shortages of popular grades become more likely. However, current evidence points to price volatility and temporary missing batches, not an absolute absence of coal across the country.

For buyers, consider calorific value, ash and sulfur content, and transport costs. Cheaper coal with poor heat output can cost more overall. Plan orders early and compare offers beyond headline price per tonne.

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